title: 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.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Section on Infectious Diseases, Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Sherertz
authors.forename: S O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Heard
authors.forename: I I
authors.initials: II
authors.lastname: Raad
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gentry
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bowton
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Scuderi
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Carruth
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Satishchandra
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pepe
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mosenthal
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Burke
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dupuis
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D004202:Disinfectants; D002710:Chlorhexidine