Long-term silicone central venous catheters impregnated with minocycline and rifampin decrease rates of catheter-related bloodstream infection in cancer patients: A prospective randomized clinical trial

Purpose To evaluate the efficacy of long-term nontunneled silicone catheters impregnated with minocycline and rifampin (M-R) in reducing catheter-related bloodstream infections. Patients and Methods This prospective, randomized, double-blind clinical trial was conducted at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, a tertiary care hospital in Houston, TX. All patients in the trial had a malignancy. Results Between September 1999 and May 2002, 356 assessable catheters were used: 182 M-R and 174 nonimpregnated. The patients' characteristics were comparable between the two study groups. The mean (+/- standard deviation) duration of catheterization with M-R catheters was comparable to that of nonimpregnated catheters (66.21 +/- 30.88 v 63.01 +/- 30.80 days). A total of 17 catheter-related bloodstream infections occurred during the course of the study. Three were associated with the use of M-R catheters and 14 were associated with the nonimpregnated catheters, with a rate of catheter-related bloodstream infection of 0.25 and 1.28/1,000 catheter-days, respectively (P = .003). Gram-positive cocci accounted for the majority of the organisms causing the infections. There were no allergic reactions associated with M-R catheters. Conclusion Long-term nontunneled central venous catheters impregnated with minocycline and rifampin are efficacious and safe in reducing catheter-related bloodstream infections in cancer patients. (C) 2004 by American Society of Clinical Oncology.