Gamma radiation-sterilized, triple-lumen catheters coated with a low concentration of chlorhexidine were not efficacious at preventing catheter infections in intensive care unit patients.
In a randomized, double-blind trial, gamma radiation-sterilized, chlorhexidine-coated triple-lumen catheters were compared with uncoated control catheters for their ability to prevent catheter infection in 254 intensive care unit patients. The chlorhexidine coating was not efficacious, and a rabbit model demonstrated that reduction of chlorhexidine activity by gamma radiation sterilization was the likely explanation for the failure.
Sherertz
R J
RJ
Section on Infectious Diseases, Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA.
Heard
S O
SO
Raad
I I
II
Gentry
L
L
Bowton
D
D
Scuderi
P
P
Hu
J
J
Carruth
W
W
Satishchandra
B
B
Pepe
J
J
Mosenthal
A
A
Burke
T
T
Dupuis
J
J
D016470:Bacteremia / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002404:Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003422:Critical Care; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000097:blood / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005720:Gamma Rays; D006801:Humans; D013242:Sterilization / Q000379:methods*
D004202:Disinfectants; D002710:Chlorhexidine