Tunneled catheters' outcome optimization among diabetics on dialysis through antibiotic-lock placement.

Efficacy and safety of antibiotic 'locks', in prevention of thrombotic and infectious complication-related morbidity and mortality, among diabetics dialyzed through tunneled-cuffed catheters (TCCs) has not been effectively investigated. This trial was designed to investigate the outcome of TCCs (n = 109), inserted among 96 diabetic end-stage renal disease patients (March 2002-February 2003), by comparing the catheter thrombosis, catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSI), catheter survival, and mortality rates, between the cohorts of 49 patients who had TCCs (n = 51) 'locked' with cefotaxime/heparin (group I) and 47 patients with TCCs (n = 58) filled with standard heparin (group II). Thrombosis was defined as the inability to use catheter at a blood flow of 200 ml/min despite intraluminal thrombolysis.