title: Randomized study of minocycline and edetic acid as a locking solution for central line (port-a-cath) in children with cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Contamination of central catheters is frequent, and biofilm perpetuates infections. Heparin does not protect against infections because it has no antibiotic action. Minocycline and edetic acid (M-EDTA), a potent calcium chelating agent that destroys bacterial and fungal cell membrane and disrupts biofilm, may be an alternative to allow the associated antibiotic to act locally at a high and safe concentration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty children with cancer and a port-a-cath were followed up: 26 received heparin (group 1) and 24 M-EDTA (group 2). A total of 762 serial prospective blood cultures were obtained, 387 from group 1 and 375 from group 2.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In group 1 (heparin), 19 blood cultures were positive, and infection incidence was 73.1% (19/26 ports). In group 2 (M-EDTA), 5 blood cultures were positive, and the incidence rate was 20.8% (5/24 ports).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  M-EDTA, compared with heparin, prevents and treats catheter infections, and is a promising alternative to decrease sepsis during chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hospital Darcy Vargas, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Julieta Maria
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ferreira Chacon
authors.forename: Emília
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hato de Almeida
authors.forename: Regina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: de Lourdes Simões
authors.forename: Viviane
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lazzarin C Ozório
authors.forename: Benaia Cândida
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: Maria Lydia
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Mello de Andréa
authors.forename: Marcela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Santiago Biernat
authors.forename: João Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Biernat
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018441:Biofilms; D001769:Blood / Q000382:microbiology; D055499:Catheter-Related Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral / Q000295:instrumentation; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling; D002648:Child; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006493:Heparin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008911:Minocycline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D006493:Heparin; D004492:Edetic Acid; D008911:Minocycline