Taurolidine and heparin catheter lock solution study
Abstract:
What is this summary about? This is a plain language summary of an article originally published in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology about the LOCK IT-100 study. The purpose of the LOCK IT-100 study was to find out if the taurolidine/ heparin catheter lock solution can help prevent catheter-related bloodstream infections, which can be serious or deadly, in patients with kidney disease who are receiving hemodialysis (blood dialysis) through a central venous catheter (CVC), which is a long, flexible tube made of medical-grade polyurethane or silicone that is inserted into a large vein. Hemodialysis refers to a process that eliminates waste products, toxins, and excess fluids from the blood when the kidneys do not work properly (kidney failure). Catheter lock solutions are put into the catheter in between dialysis sessions when the catheter is not in use. The solutions typically contain a blood thinner, such as heparin, to prevent blood clots from forming and blocking the catheter. The taurolidine/heparin catheter lock solution, in addition to heparin, contains a unique antimicrobial drug to prevent bacteria and fungi from living in the catheter, where they may cause an infection by spreading to the bloodstream. These catheter‐related bloodstream infections are a deadly complication in some patients receiving hemodialysis through a catheter. The LOCK IT-100 study compared the taurolidine/heparin catheter lock solution with another catheter lock solution that contained heparin alone, which helped study researchers to find out if the taurolidine/heparin catheter lock solution was more effective in reducing the risk of these catheter-related bloodstream infections.
What were the key results? Nine out of 397 (2%) people who received the taurolidine/heparin catheter lock solution developed a catheter‐related bloodstream infection compared with 32 out of 398 (8%) people who received the heparin catheter lock solution. The risk of developing a catheter-related bloodstream infection was reduced by 71% in people who received the taurolidine/heparin catheter lock solution compared with those who received heparin alone. Side effects were similar in the taurolidine/heparin and heparin groups. The most common serious side effects in both groups included pneumonia, fluid overload, and sepsis. Serious side effects are those that may have severe or life-threatening outcomes and may require hospitalization or medical treatment.
What do the results mean? Patients receiving hemodialysis through a CVC were less likely to develop a catheter‐related bloodstream infection with the use of the taurolidine/heparin catheter lock solution than with the use of heparin alone. There were no safety concerns, meaning no potential harm or risk to participants in the study, related to the taurolidine/heparin catheter lock solution. These findings could help to inform patients with kidney disease and health care providers when making decisions about hemodialysis treatment.
Reference:
Agarwal AK, Crandon J, Hurlburt E, Michaud M, Pfaffle A, Roy-Chaudhury P, Medina C, Conway PT, Hickey EV 3rd. A plain language summary of the LOCK IT-100 study of taurolidine/heparin catheter lock solution and catheter-related bloodstream infection in hemodialysis. Future Microbiol. 2025 Sep 2:1-18. doi: 10.1080/17460913.2025.2547498. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40891537.