Antibiotic lock therapy for the treatment of peripherally inserted central venous catheter-related bloodstream infection in patients with hematological malignancies: a single center retrospective study.

Catheter-related bloodstream infections represent one of the most prevalent complications in patients with peripherally inserted central venous catheters (PICCs). The application of antibiotic lock therapy (ALT), particularly in patients with hematological malignancies, has not been well documented. We aim to share our experience on ALT for these patients and to evaluate its effectiveness and safety. All cases of patients with hematological malignancies who had PICC from January 2018 to October 2024 were retrospectively reviewed. Microbiologic data of PICC-related bloodstream infections (PRBSIs) were collected. A comparison was made between patients managed with ALT and those without it. Factors affecting PICC removal were also explored. A total of 45 patients experienced 67 episodes of PRBSIs, yielding an incidence rate of 2.98 per 1,000 PICC days. The median time of PRBSI onset was 42 days. Predominant pathogens included Gram-negative bacilli (49.3%) and Gram-positive cocci (35.8%). The catheter salvage rate was significantly higher at 76.5% when ALT was combined with systemic antibiotic therapy (SAT), compared to 51.5% for SAT alone (p = 0.033). 3 death events (3/34) compared with 4 death events (4/33) occurred in each therapeutic regimen (p = 0.709). Elevated procalcitonin levels (> 2ng/ml) and inadequate empirical therapy were risk factors for PICC removal; conversely, ALT served as a protective factor against it. ALT in combination with systemic antibiotics is a safe and effective approach for managing PRBSIs in patients with hematological malignancies, helping to avoid unnecessary catheter removal and could be considered in clinical practice when catheter retention is desired.