Locking of tunneled hemodialysis catheters with gentamicin and heparin.
BACKGROUND
Catheter-related infection (CRI) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients receiving hemodialysis. Antibiotic locking of these catheters has been shown to increase both the success of systemic antibiotic treatment in line sepsis, and to reduce the incidence of sepsis. We have studied the use of gentamicin locking of catheters (in combination with standard heparin rather than previously reported citrate) to reduce CRI rates. Furthermore, we have investigated the effects of this strategy on epoetin requirements and vascular access function.


METHODS
Fifty patients were studied. Patients were randomized to catheter-restricted filling with either standard heparin (5000 IU/mL) alone, or gentamicin and heparin (5 mg/mL). Epoetin requirements and hemoglobin response were monitored over the study period.


RESULTS
The gentamicin-locked group suffered only one infective episode (0.3/1000 catheter days) compared to 10 episodes in six patients in the heparin alone group (4/1000 catheter days, P= 0.02). The isolated organisms were equally split between Staphylococcal species and coliforms. There were no statistically significant differences in delivered dialysis dose (Kt/V) or QA between the two groups. Use of antibiotic locking was associated with both a higher mean hemoglobin (10.1 +/-0.14 g/dL vs. 9.2 +/- 0.17 g/dL in the heparin group, P= 0.003) and a lower mean epoetin dose (9000 +/- 734 IU/week vs. 10790 +/-615 IU/week in the heparin group, P= 0.04).


CONCLUSIONS
The practice of locking newly inserted tunneled central venous catheters with gentamicin and heparin is an effective strategy to reduce line sepsis rates, and is associated with beneficial effects on epoetin requirements.
McIntyre
Christopher W
CW
Department of Renal Medicine, Derby City General Hospital, Derby, United Kingdom. Chris.McIntyre@sdah-tr.trent.nhs.uk
Hulme
Lisa J
LJ
Taal
Maarten
M
Fluck
Richard J
RJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000740:Anemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002404:Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000068817:Epoetin Alfa; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006397:Hematinics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006493:Heparin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D018805:Sepsis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000925:Anticoagulants; D005839:Gentamicins; D006397:Hematinics; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin; D000068817:Epoetin Alfa; D006493:Heparin