Sepsis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Sepsis, including details on septicemia, diagnosis, symptoms, treatment.

Taurolidine is effective in the treatment of central venous catheter-related bloodstream infections in cancer patients.

Koldehoff M, Zakrzewski JL

Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation, University Hospital Essen, Hufelandstreet 55, 45122 Essen, Germany. michael.koldehoff@uni-essen.de

Taurolidine is an antimicrobial agent that was originally used in the local treatment of peritonitis and was shown to be effective in the prevention of catheter-related bloodstream infections (CR-BSI). In this pilot study, we used taurolidine solution as an intravenous (i.v.) lock into the totally implantable intravascular devices of 11 consecutive oncological patients with catheter-related bloodstream infections not responding to systemic antimicrobial chemotherapy. All patients recovered completely from the infection. No adverse drug effects were seen. Three patients were successfully retreated for a recurrent infection. Our data suggest a beneficial role of taurolidine i.v. lock for the therapy of catheter-related bloodstream infections in oncological patients. Taurolidine i.v. lock application is feasible and could especially be useful in infections resistant to antibiotic chemotherapy.

Published 2 November 2004 in Int J Antimicrob Agents, 24(5): 491-5.
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