Antibiotic Lock Technique - Essay Example

Download file to see previous pages... In 1980’s the concept of antibiotic lock technique was developed as a derivation of the heparin lock technique. It involves instilling a highly concentrated antibiotic solution into a catheter lumen and allows the solution to dwell for a specified time period for the purpose of sterilizing the lumen. A group of researchers hypothesized that using a high concentration of bactericidal antibiotics could effectively sterilize a catheter and reduce catheter-related sepsis from intraluminal line infections. (Messing,1988). The study will include reviews of the use of the antibiotic lock in central venous catheters. To show the efficacy of the technique the paper will present clinical studies done with consideration on ethical issues such as consent from the patient to take part in the research. The choice of antimicrobials for use in antibiotic lock technique are dependent on the different pathogens suspected to infect the catheter lumen, characteristics of the organisms, and the pharmacodynamic properties of the antimicrobial agent. The literature review includes the study done by Segarra-Newnham (2004), who concluded that “the ALT can be tried for patients with highly needed catheters when infection with coagulase-negative staphylococci is documented and no systemic signs of sepsis, such as hypotension, are evident.” The study’s aim is to eradicate any microorganisms that may have colonized the lumen of the catheter, and thereby prevent infection...
Other studies and reviews will be presented to support the claim on the effectivity of the antibiotic locks on venous catheter. A discussion on the later part will be presented and the conclusion will show the overall view of the research. An ethical consideration is discussed to support the claim in the effectivity of the technique with the consent of the participant in the study.
Antibiotic Lock Technique in Central Venous Catheter
A central venous catheter (CVC or central venous line or central venous access catheter) is a catheter placed into a large vein in the neck, chest or groin, this is inserted by a physician when the patient needs frequent or intensive cardiovascular monitoring, heart failure drugs in some patients eg; dopamine and other inotropes, for assessment of fluid status, and for increased viability of intravenous drugs/fluids.(wikipedia.com). All catheters can introduce bacteria into the bloodstream, but CVCs are known for occasionally causing Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis sepsis. In order to avoid the infections antibiotics are given. The antibiotic lock technique was introduced to avoid the removal of the


catheter. Antibiotic lock technique was developed in the late 1980s as a derivation of the heparin lock technique. The method involves the positioning of a highly concentrated antibiotic solution into the catheter lumen and allowing the solution to dwell for a specified time period for the purpose of sterilizing the lumen. The first antibiotic used is the vancomycin and amikacin concentrations, the experiments were 40-80 times and 0-120 times greater, respectively, than the peak blood concentrations attained when the antibiotics were administered systemically with conventional dosing. The popularity of ...Download file to see next pagesRead More