Bacteria in portcatheter

[Pumpkininja]

Dearest,After my 5 th round caelyx/ platinum yesterday was almost going home.My husband almost arriving to pick me up from hospital ...when i start with fever... they made blood exams and discover I've a bacteria in my portcatheter today.It seems other ladies here where I am also got it...

I'm so scared.:(((

They just gave me first 1 hour and half of antibiotics and then will get a pick it seems.

Anyone had similar experience of bacteria in the portcatheter ( still really in the beginning according to them)? Does it heal the portcatheter and goes to normal?Does it take long?

I cannot imagine my life without my portcatheter and they say with infection they don't replace it however they seem to be confident will be fine.I am just terrified to say the least...

Any words of experience would be greatly appreciated

Thank you so much 🙏🏼🥺

[candyapplegrey]

Hi there, Is your portcatheter like a PICC line? I had an infection in my PICC line and had to be hospitalised. I then got a blood clot in my arm. Had strong antibiotics and was cured. Just meant I needed to take more blood thinners. I think you'll be fine. Weird that everyone got it. Was it a hygiene issue at the hospital? Good luck. x

[Pumpkininja in reply to candyapplegrey]

Dear candyapplegrey , my portcatheter is inside of the skin( don't think is picc line).I asked the nurse the samething about if could be a hygiene issue.They say that no, that each patient had different bacteria and they don't know how something so sterilised and clean could have this .anyway I find it weird also ( this Uz Leuven very good hospital in Belgium).

Thank you so much for your kind words.Hope the antibiotics fix my beloved portcatheter

Is my the most precious part of my body🥺

All the best xxx

[candyapplegrey in reply to Pumpkininja]

Yes. The PICC line goes into the body but I think the infection started on the outside - via the secure-a-cath.

[Pumpkininja in reply to candyapplegrey]

I'm super upset with all this.if I could present a major complaint 🥹

[delia2]

Hi. I had something like this when I was in the hospital for pneumonia. The bacteria turned out to be a common kind of staph that’s on the skin. I noticed when an inexperienced nurse was accessing my port that she did not scrub down the area with antiseptic the way it’s usually done. She barely dabbed it. I should have said something but didn’t. Anyway IV antibiotics took care of it and it’s been five years since then.

[Pumpkininja in reply to delia2]

Dear delia2 thank you so much.so they also put you in IV antibiotics ( the same here).I'm still waiting for the doctor to know how long will be this ...

Thank you for sharing your experience.

All the best xxx

[candyapplegrey in reply to delia2]

Yes. That's what happened to me. The nurse didn't follow the usual procedure.

But I didn't know because it happened on the 2nd day I had the PICC at my first chemo. I did complain when I realised but wish I hadn't.

[Leniko]

wow, it’s a little scary that more than one person got it. I wonder if there’s a nurse or two that don’t follow the best sanitary practices. At my cancer center, They are so careful and wipe everything down and flush you a number of times. I’m sorry to hear your story. I think your port should be OK once you get over the virus.

[Pumpkininja in reply to Leniko]

Thank you Leniko .All the best xxx