Impact of locking unused CVC lumens with taurolidine
Abstract:
Objective: Lower risk of catheter-related bacteremia (CRB) using taurolidine (antimicrobial agent) sealing of central venous catheters (CVCs) in children has been found in a meta-analysis. The objective of this study was to analyze whether the sealing of unused lumens of CVCs with taurolidine in critically ill adult patients reduce CRB incidence.
Design: Retrospective study.
Setting: One Spanish Intensive Care Unit.
Patients: Critically ill adult patients, who underwent to some CVC.
Interventions: The seal of unused lumens of CVCs was performed with saline serum 0.9% or taurolidine.
Main variable of interest: Primary Bloodstream Infection (PBSI) included catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) CRBSI and bloodstream infection of unknown origin (BSIUO).
Results: We diagnosed 22 PBSI in the 573 (3.8%) CVC without taurolidine and 22 PBSI in the 548 (4.0%) CVC with taurolidine (p = 0.88). Logistic regression analysis showed an association of tracheostomy with the risk of PBSI; however, we did not find the association of other variables (included taurolidine) with the risk of PBSI.
Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study reporting data about sealing of unused lumens of CVCs with taurolidine in critically ill adult patients. In our preliminary study, we have not been able to demonstrate that sealing unused lumens of CVCs with taurolidine can reduce the risk of PBSI in critically ill adult patients. However, it would be interesting to conduct randomized studies to confirm or discard our findings.
Reference:
Lorente L, Lecuona M, Pérez E, Hernández A, Sánchez S, González L, Ramos A, Pimentel J, Correa P, Chinea-Rodríguez CD, Martín-Meana C, Madueño A. Central venous catheter associated bacteremia in critically ill adult patients using the sealing of unused lumens with taurolidine. Med Intensiva (Engl Ed). 2025 Jun 28:502252. doi: 10.1016/j.medine.2025.502252. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40582921.