Central venous catheter (CVC) removal is indicated when persistent catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) occurs. This is a retrospective study to analyze the use of linezolid as a salvage therapy for CRBSIs due to coagulase-negative Staphylococci in children diagnosed with acute leukemia. Seven treatment courses of linezolid were administrated to six patients with port-type-CRBSI after non-effective intravenous vancomycin or teicoplanin treatment. Simultaneous lock and systemic therapy with linezolid avoided the removal of port-type-CVC in all cases. Treatment with linezolid was an alternative to catheter removal in these patients. Prospective studies are needed to confirm linezolid effectiveness as a salvage treatment in CRBSI.
Keywords: acute leukemia; catheter-related infections; children; linezolid.
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