Successful Prevention of Cuffed Hemodialysis Catheter-Related Infection Using an Antibiotic Lock Technique by Strictly Catheter-Restricted Antibiotic Lock Solution Method

BACKGROUND: Catheter-related infection (CRI) is associated with increased all-cause mortality and morbidity in hemodialysis patients and may be reduced by using antimicrobial lock solutions. But the safety of long-term use of antimicrobial lock still needs to be defined. METHODS: Patients with a new inserted permanent tunneled cuffed hemodialysis catheter were randomly assigned to an antibiotic lock solution of gentamicin (4 mg/ml) heparin (G group) or heparin alone (H group). RESULTS: A total of 140 patients were enrolled in this study. CRI rates were 0.06/1,000 catheter-days for the G group versus 0.67 in the H group (p = 0.014). The risk of CRI was 10.54 higher in patients with a heparin-alone locked catheter (p = 0.025) than that with gentamicin. The serum-measured gentamicin levels were very low. CONCLUSIONS: Gentamicin lock solution reduces CRI and improves catheter survival rates in hemodialysis patients. It is relatively safe in strictly catheter-restricted antibiotic lock solution therapy.