title: Ethanol lock therapy to treat tunnelled central venous catheter-associated blood stream infections: results from a prospective trial.
abstract: In order to assess the efficacy of 70% ethanol locks in addition to antibiotic therapy to treat tunnelled central venous catheter-associated bloodstream infections, a pilot study of 19 patients was performed prospectively using ethanol locks for 5 d in addition to antibiotic therapy to treat tunnelled central venous catheter-associated bacteraemia. 12 patients had mono-microbial infections and 7 had polymicrobial isolates. 17 of 19 patients completed ethanol lock therapy. 15 of 17 patients completing ethanol lock therapy had no recurrence of the original organism and retained their catheter for a median of 36 and an average of 47 d following initiation of ethanol lock therapy. These results demonstrate the safety and potential efficacy of this technique against a broad range of potentially virulent organisms. The intervention was acceptable to both staff and patients with no significant side-effects. These preliminary results from our prospective pilot study suggest that ethanol lock therapy is safe and easily integrated into clinical practice, and may have utility in treating central venous catheter-associated infections, avoiding removal of catheters in patients requiring long-term venous access.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Department, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston, Australia. j.broom@uq.edu.au
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Broom
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Woods
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Allworth
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McCarthy
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Faoagali
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Macdonald
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pithie
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000382:microbiology*; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000431:Ethanol