Nonetheless, heparin locking solutions are also widely used around the world, and a large-scale comparison of citrate locking solution, heparin locking solution, and saline locking solution is essential if the value of citrate locking solution is to be assessed in a cost-benefit analysis.
Prophylactic lock solutions that have been studied include antibiotic locks and sodium citrate locks [ 6, 7].
Catheter lock solutions and coating catheters with antimicrobial substances [ 5] address intraluminal sources of infection.
The evidence to guide the use of specific locking solutions, including the strength and amount of solution, is limited.
In addition, there are organizations and regulatory agencies in some countries that recommend the use of single dose containers for all medications including catheter flushing and locking solutions.
The critical care medicine and oncology literature have provided some evidence for the use of prophylactic anticoagulant catheter locking solutions to decrease catheter-related thrombosis.
These studies do support the use of locking solutions, however, and alternative agents such as ethanol could potentially allow for a protective benefit without the risk of resistance.
Results from this study will determine if use of weekly rt-PA, compared to heparin, will decrease catheter malfunction, as well as assess the cost-effectiveness of these locking solutions.
While antibiotic locking solutions have been proposed as a method to treat (. ([ 24], as well as prevent [ 25], catheter-related bacteremia, their side effects limit their wide-spread use [ 26].
It is not possible to recommend one type of locking solution rather than another (saline, heparin, citrate).
We studied biofilm characteristics in patients with and without catheter-related bloodstream infection, accounting for catheter locking solution (citrate 4% or heparin 1 1,000).
