6101 Background: This study’s objective was to examine administrative claims data’s capacity to serve as a surveillance tool for long-term catheter use and related bloodstream infections among cancer patients. Population-based estimates and efforts to track catheter use and infections for this group are limited. As such, we sought to explore catheter use documentation using a cohort of colorectal cancer patients. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis using the population-based SEER-Medicare dataset for patients 66 years or older diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2005-2007 (n = 54,870). Insertions and removals of long-term central venous catheters (i.e., tunneled, ports/pumps, peripherally inserted central catheter [PICCs]) were identified by billing codes within 2 years of diagnosis. Factors associated with catheter use were identified in multivariable logistic regression analysis. Results: Findings were consistent with clinical expectations. A total of 11,775 patients (21%) had at least one documented long-term catheter insertion within 2 years of diagnosis, 19% within 6 months. Of those with catheters, approximately 25% had more than one insertion. Sixty-eight percent had at least one port/pump, 8% at least one tunneled catheter, and 33% at least one PICC. Seventy-four percent of catheterized patients had IV chemotherapy. Of patients stages I, II, III, and IV, 10%, 18%, 37%, and 39% had catheters, respectively. Adjusted for other factors, patients with catheters were significantly more likely to be younger, female, black (vs. white), and have comorbidities (vs. none documented in year prior to diagnosis), compared to patients without catheters. By the end of the study, 34% of patients with ports/pumps had documented removal and 42% died (for patients with tunneled catheters, 28% and 52%, respectively). Conclusions: Findings support the use of claims data to capture long-term catheter use in cancer patients, providing a foundation for exploration of its capacity to capture infections. Given extensive documented catheter use (21%), infections may be a significant problem. Claims data may offer a low-burden method for surveillance and study, aiding the development of targeted initiatives.
Impact of Catheter Management on Clinical Outcome in Adult Cancer Patients With Gram-Negative Bacteremia
