title: Taurolidine-citrate-heparin catheter lock solution reduces staphylococcal bacteraemia rates in haemodialysis patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Infection is second only to cardiovascular disease as a cause of death in the haemodialysis (HD) population.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  : To assess the effect of introducing catheter lock solution taurolidine-citrate-heparin to all tunnelled central venous catheters (TCVCs) on staphylococcal bloodstream infection rates in patients on chronic HD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational, prospective analysis of the incidence rates of staphylococcal bacteraemic events in National Health Service (NHS) Greater Glasgow & Clyde and NHS Forth Valley between April 2011 and June 2013, with taurolidine-citrate-heparin catheter lock solution introduced July 2012.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected each calendar quarter through a structured query language interrogation of the renal unit electronic patient record, with staphylococcal bacteraemic events expressed per 1000 vascular access exposed days. Comparison between pre- and post-intervention periods was made by student's t-testing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred and thirty-nine staphylococcal bacteraemic events occurred over a total of 424,835 HD days in 565 patients; 81 events in 289,389 arterio-venous fistula or graft (AVF/AVG) HD days and 158 events in 135 446 TCVC HD days. Following the introduction of taurolidine-citrate-heparin, bacteraemic events in patients dialysing via a TCVC fell from 1.59/1000 HD days to 0.69/1000 HD days, P = 0.004. The staphylococcal bacteraemia rate in AVF/AVGs remained unchanged; 0.30 vs. 0.26/1000 HD days, P = 0.52.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Replacing heparin 5000 IU with Taurolidine-citrate-heparin as catheter lock solution was associated with a statistically significant 56% reduction in staphylococcal bloodstream infection rates in our TCVC HD population.
authors.affiliation: From the Glasgow Renal and Transplant Unit, Western Infirmary, Glasgow G11 6NT, UK eleanormurray@doctors.org.uk.
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.affiliation: From the Glasgow Renal and Transplant Unit, Western Infirmary, Glasgow G11 6NT, UK.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Deighan
authors.affiliation: From the Glasgow Renal and Transplant Unit, Western Infirmary, Glasgow G11 6NT, UK.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Geddes
authors.affiliation: From the Glasgow Renal and Transplant Unit, Western Infirmary, Glasgow G11 6NT, UK.
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Thomson
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000379:methods; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling; D062905:Central Venous Catheters; D019343:Citric Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control; D006493:Heparin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013654:Taurine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D013829:Thiadiazines / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000925:Anticoagulants; D004338:Drug Combinations; D013829:Thiadiazines; D013654:Taurine; D019343:Citric Acid; C012566:taurolidine; D006493:Heparin