By Kate O'Rourke
A standardized catheter maintenance protocol coupled with an intensive patient education program can slash the rate of infections in cancer patients undergoing total parenteral nutrition infusions (TPN) at home, a new study suggests.
“Home parenteral nutrition has gotten a bad reputation, mainly because of a high incidence of catheter-related [bloodstream] infection [CRBSI], but this study shows we can significantly reduce that risk,” said lead researcher