Prophylactic Antibiotic Use Prior To Tunneled Catheter Insertion Not Associated With Hemodialysis Catheter-Related Bloodstream Infections Within 14 Days Of Insertion, Study Finds

Healio (8/8, Carter) reported a study found that “prophylactic antibiotic use before tunneled cuffed catheter insertion was not linked to a lower rate of early hemodialysis catheter-related bloodstream infections.” Investigators “used a pre-study survey to determine whether a service had a standing policy to administer systemic antibiotics before catheter insertion.” Study findings “showed less than 1% of tunneled cuffed catheters in Australia were associated with hemodialysis catheter-related bloodstream infections within 14 days of placement.” Furthermore, the researchers observed “that of 1,196 tunneled catheters placed in antibiotic-using services, four (0.3%) resulted in hemodialysis catheter-related bloodstream infections and 10 (0.8%) led to catheter removal due to infection within 14 days. Among the 5,027 catheters placed at non-antibiotic services, 40 (0.8%) were linked to hemodialysis catheter-related bloodstream infections and 41 (0.8%) required removal.” The study was published in Kidney Medicine.