Loading...
Patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) frequently require hemodialysis through temporary, nontunneled dialysis catheters (DCs), which present a high risk for infection. Studies have suggested that filling the catheter lumen with antimicrobials when the catheter is not in use (i.e., an antimicrobial lock) reduces infection risk; however, when repeated several times, this practice may promote colonization with resistant microorganisms. Ethanol, which has broad antimicrobial activity and should not promote selection of resistant pathogens, is an alternative lock solution.
Now, in a multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, researchers in France have examined this possibility. Adult ICU patients with nontunneled DCs expected to rem…