Ethanol combined with heparin as a locking solution for the prevention of catheter related blood stream infections in hemodialysis patients: A prospective randomized study.

Introduction: Ethanol lock solution has been mainly administered in paediatric and home parenteral nutrition patients in order to prevent catheter related blood stream infections (CRBSI). Its utility in hemodialysis (HD) patients with non-tunneled-uncuffed catheter (NTC) has been poorly explored.

Methods: We conducted a prospective randomized study in chronic HD patients requiring a newly inserted NTC-while awaiting for the maturation of an already established arteriovenous fistula (AVF) or arteriovenous graft (AVG) or tunneled-cuffed catheter insertion.

Linezolid versus vancomycin antibiotic lock solution for the prevention of nontunneled catheter-related blood stream infections in hemodialysis patients: a prospective randomized study.

The use of antibiotic lock solutions (ALSs) for the prevention of catheter-related blood stream infections (CRBSIs) is a promising option. The efficacy and safety of linezolid as ALS were evaluated in a randomized double-blind prospective study where 131 patients who required nontunneled catheter (NTC) for hemodialysis (HD) were randomized to receive an ALS with either (A) unfractionated heparin (2000 U/ml) alone as a catheter lock control, (B) vancomycin (5 mg/ml) + heparin (2000 U/ml), or (C) linezolid (2 mg/ml) + heparin (2000 U/ml). The primary endpoint of the study was CRBSI.

Strong correlation of B2-microglobulin (B2-m) with procalcitonin (PCT) in the serum of chronic hemodialysis patients: a role for infections in the dialysis-related amyloidosis?

Introduction: Infections trigger the activation of defensive cells capable to produce and release B(2)-microglobulin (B(2)-m). Procalcitonin (PCT), secreted by a wide range of human cells, included the aforementioned defensive cells, is generally considered a sensitive and specific marker of infection. In this prospective study, we examined the possibility that infections, as detected by increased levels of PCT, increase the serum levels of B(2)-m in chronic hemodialysis (CHD) patients, possibly affecting the rate of progression of dialysis-related amyloidosis (DRA).

Residual blood loss in single use dialyzers: effect of different membranes and flux.

Aim/background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the residual blood loss in new type single use dialyzers under the usually prevailing conditions during hemodialysis and to investigate whether or not this loss is dependent on dialyzer membrane composition or flux characteristics.

Materials And Methods: In 158 hemodialysis (HD) patients, 158 single used dialyzers were studied in corresponding HD sessions. 52/158 dialyzers were made from modified cellulose (acetate, CA or triacetate, CTA) membrane and 106 from synthetic ones (58 with ethyl-vinyl-alcohol (EVAL), 48 with polyacrilonitrile (AN69)).

Dissemination of vancomycin-resistant enterococci among haemodialysis patients in Athens, Greece.

Objectives: Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) may colonize haemodialysis patients, but their epidemiology in this population is not well defined. Within the few last years, VRE strains have emerged and are increasingly isolated in the nosocomial environment in Greece, but colonization of dialysis patients has never been evaluated before. This study sought to determine the epidemiology of VRE colonization within this high-risk population and define the risk factors.