Should central venous catheters be rapidly removed to treat Staphylococcus aureus related-catheter bloodstream infection (CR-BSI) in neonates and children? An 8-year period (2010-2017) retrospective analysis in a French University Hospital.

Catheter-related bloodstream infection (CR-BSI) treatment is based on empiric antibiotherapy associated with or without catheter removal. The aim of this study was to compare the incidence of failures in neonates and children with Staphylococcus aureus CR-BSI with or without rapid catheter removal. Treatment failure was defined as the persistence of positive blood cultures, onset or aggravation of a local or systemic complication, or relapse. Fifty-four CR-BSI in 225 patients were analysed (33 and 21 conservative and non-conservative treatments) with three and 10 failures, respectively (P<0.002). Non-conservative treatment with rapid catheter removal seems to be associated with a significantly lower failure rate and should be recommended.