#2430 Comparison of the efficacy of gentamicin-citrate and gentamicin-citrate/Taurolock-urokinase locks for non-tunneled catheters in hemodialysis patients
Authors: Azasevac Tijana , Knezevic Violeta , Strazmester-Majstorovic Gordana , Bozic Dusan , Ljubicic Bojana , Petrovic Lada 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Background and Aims
Catheter-related complications, such as dysfunction, thrombosis and infection, are associated with significant morbidity and mortality in patients on hemodialysis (HD) receiving dialysis through temporary non-tunneled double-lumen central venous catheters (CVC). Catheter lock solutions containing antibiotics and antitrombolytics are commonly used to prevent such complications. The aim of the present study was to compare impact of a different prophylactic catheter lock solutions on the incidence of catheter-related complications (catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) and catheter thrombosis) and mortality compared with heparin catheter locks.

Method
We performed a single-centre prospective, randomized, single-blinded controlled trial of 96 adult patients undergoing HD in our institution from Jun 2018 to Jun 2023. Patients were randomized 1:1:1 to receive either a lock solution combining gentamicin-citrate twice a week with taurolidine-citrate (Taurolock)/urokinase at the end of the third hemodialysis session before the end of the week (TAURO group) or gentamicin-citrate at the end of all hemodialysis sessions (GENTAM group) or unfractionated heparin 5000 U/mL thrice weekly as control (HEPARIN group). Catheter lock solutions were administered for 3 months after insertion of CVC and patients were followed for at least 6 months after insertion of CVC. Demographic, clinical and laboratory parameters, as well as used medications, were analyzed. Episodes of acute catheter thrombosis and incidence of CRBSI were recorded, along with dialysis adequacy (Kt/V) and adverse events.

Results
The study population (96 patients, 32 in each group) had a median age of 60 years (range 19–85 years), 56.3% man. In the majority of patients (88.5%) the indication for placement of the CVC was the initiation of dialysis, while in the remaining patients indication was thrombosis of the existing vascular access. The most important baseline clinical and laboratory values are presented in Table 1. The catheter median length of stay was of 125.94 ± 87.48 (from 50 to 535) days in TAURO group, 113.44 ± 35.68 (from 54 to 233) days in GENTAM group and 108.59 ± 37.84 (from 42 to 212) days in HEPARIN group (p = 0.831). There was no difference between groups with regard to catheter thrombosis (3.3 events/1000 catheter-days in all groups). The CRBSI rate of 3.2 episodes/1000 catheter-days in TAURO group was slightly lower than the rate of 5.3 episodes/1000 catheter-days in GENTAM group (p = 0.479) and 4.3 episodes/1000 catheter-days in control HEPARIN group (p = 0.705). The CRBSI-free survival time in TAURO group was 197 ± 220 (from 28 to 447) days, longer than in the GENTAM group (38 ± 33 days, from 8 to 86) and HEPARIN group (37 ± 35 days, from 4 to 86), p = 0.21. Impact of catheter lock solution on dialysis adequacy as measured by Kt/V in time is presented in Fig. 1. No significant differences were found between study groups in survival after 6 months (p = 0.810) and at the end study period (p = 0.096)-presented in Fig. 1.

Conclusion
We observed no difference in the incidence of catheter thrombosis and mortality rate in groups with prophylactic catheter lock solutions and control group. The use of Gentamicin-citrate/Taurolock-urokinase as a dialysis catheter lock solution, as compared with gentamicin-citrate or heparin administered three times a week, led to a nonsignificant reduction of CRBSI incidence and longer CRBSI-free survival time in patients on HD receiving dialysis through temporary non-tunneled double-lumen CVC.