Dialysis: Efficacy of catheter lock solutions

摘要

Antimicrobial-containing citrate lock solutions are more effective than heparin lock solutions for the prevention of catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs), say researchers. In their meta-analysis of 13 randomized controlled trials, Fu Ping and colleagues found that use of citrate lock solutions containing antimicrobials-but not citrate lock solutions alone-significantly reduced the incidence of CRBSIs (P<0.001) compared with use of heparin lock solutions in patients with central venous catheters who were receiving haemodialysis (n = 1,770). However, in their subgroup analysis, high-concentration citrate lock solutions were not more effective than heparin lock solutions in preventing CRBSIs.