What causes a port to get infected?

[christine2]

I had a port implanted one month ago. A month later (3 days ago) it was removed due to infection. It was only used for chemo one time. Please share your experiences with an infected port. What causes it to get infected and how long does it take for the infection to clear up? I have been on two different antibiotics starting 5 days before the infection, another one since I came home, plus two days of intravenous antibiotics in the hospital after the port was removed. Thanks for sharing your experience with an infected port with me.

[christine2]

Sorry, I meant I started antibiotics 5 days before the surgery to remove it not 5 days before the infection

[Lobster2]

It more than likely wasn't anything you did. The infection might have been introduced to your body when it was installed, or it was introduced when they accessed it. That's really bad that happened to you. I have a nephew who has a shunt in his brain. They had to remove it 1 week after it was installed due to infection. The doctor's said the infection was introduced during his 1st surgery. Also sometimes an infection in the body will attack the port. As for anything you can do in the future is not touch it until it's completely healed over. The documentation that comes with your port also has good information on care. One of the biggies when I first got mine was to avoid hot tubs. I have been in a few hot tubs with it but I've had mine in for 4 1/2 years now (but I did it because I actually totally forgot about that rule).

[christine2 in reply to Lobster2]

I’m sorry to hear what happened to your nephew. Thank you for your advice. I’m in the hospital for the second time on IV antibiotics still trying to get rid of the infection.

[TNkit]

My port incision developed an infection right before third chemo. They said it just happens sometimes. Had that one removed and one put on the other side. That one has been in since June 2019 - seems to be fine. Sometimes after flush it itches and burns for a few days.

[christine2 in reply to TNkit]

Thanks for your reply, I have heard port infections are rare. I had the port removed 3 weeks after it was implanted, but the infection worsened . The doctor opened the surgery site a week later and removed an infected hematoma. I spent 6 days in the hospital on IV antibiotics. He left the site open so the infection could clear . It is gone now, But I have a home nurse who comes 3 times a week to change the dressing and pack the wound. It is going to take awhile for the wound to heal from the inside out. This was so unfortunate . Due to the severe infection, I am not going to get another port. I will finish the chemo treatments without a port.