Efficacy of catheter cleaning methods using intravenous indwelling catheter, 10% silver nitrate solution and a monofilament nylon thread for deeply progressed superficial driveline infections: case series

Driveline infection (DLI) is treated by local irrigation via driveline exit site (DLES) and surgical debridement is considered in patients with deep DLI. We describe three cases of deeply progressed superficial DLI that were considered to require surgical debridement but could be treated with a unique catheter cleaning method using intravenous indwelling catheter, a cotton swab with 10% silver nitrate solution and a monofilament nylon thread. Case 1 was a 60-y-old man with ischemic cardiomyopathy with left ventricular assist device implantation 2 y before. Daily bedside debridement with 10% silver nitrate solution was performed via the DLES. Case 2 was a 43-y-old man with ischemic cardiomyopathy who had recurrent DLI with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and case 3 was a 49-y-old woman with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, who also showed improvement in their DLI with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These cleaning methods may be useful for the deeply progressed superficial DLI.