Prophylactic antibiotics before tunneled catheter insertion not tied to fewer infections

Key takeaways:

Of 1,196 tunneled catheters placed in nephrology services that use antibiotics, four resulted in bloodstream infections within 14 days.

During the same time, 10 catheters needed removal due to infection.

Perspective from Anil K. Agarwal, MD, FACP, FASN, FNKF, FISN, FASDIN

Prophylactic antibiotic use before tunneled cuffed catheter insertion was not linked to a lower rate of early hemodialysis catheter-related bloodstream infections, a study found.

“Tunneled central venous catheters are commonly used for hemodialysis vascular access but are a source of burdensome and costly health care-associated infections, particularly during the first month after catheter insertion,” Benjamin Lazarus, MBBS, MPH, PhD, a nephrologist in the department of medicine at Monash Medical