ISRCTN ISRCTN15554338
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN15554338
Secondary identifying numbers 337.23
Submission date
23/03/2015
Registration date
02/04/2015
Last edited
15/03/2016
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Infections and Infestations
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
People whose kidneys fail rely on dialysis machines (usually three times weekly) to clean their blood from waste products. Dialysis treatment requires access to the patient’s circulation, which is sometimes achieved by inserting a plastic tube (catheter) into a major vein in the body. Two major complications are associated with the use of catheters: catheter occlusion due to clot formation inside or outside the catheter lumen, and infection that can lead to serious blood poisoning (bloodstream infection), which is a major cause of death in this group of patients. Usually an anticoagulant solution called Heparin is instilled and locked inside the catheter between dialysis sessions to prevent catheter occlusion. Research has shown that Heparin encourages bacterial growth on the catheter’s surface and may contribute to infection. A lock solution that prevents catheter occlusion and infection would be ideal to address the two major complications associated with catheters use. Cathasept lock solution has anticoagulant and anti-microbial effects. The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of Cathasept line lock to reduce microbial colonization of hemodialysis catheters.

Who can participate?
People receiving dialysis treatment at four dialysis centers in the Yorkshire region in the UK.

What does the study involve?
Patients who were deemed eligible and provided informed consent, were randomly assigned to either continue Heparin locks or to receive Cathasept locks. Participants were regularly checked for signs of infection and were tested weekly for catheter infection by obtaining 1 ml of blood through the catheter lumens and sent for microbial culture.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Benefits include reduction in catheter-related infections with lower hospital admissions, improved general wellbeing, and reduced cost. However, Cathasept may not be as effective an anticoagulant as Heparin, which may result in higher incidence of catheter occlusion.

Where is the study run from?
Four dialysis centers in the Yorkshire region in the UK

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
August 2006 to October 2008

Who is funding the study?
Yorkshire Kidney Research Fund (UK)

Who is the main contact?
Dr Muhammad Kanaa
muhammad.kanaa@dbh.nhs.uk

Contact information

Dr Muhammad Kanaa
Scientific

Department of Renal Medicine
Doncaster Royal Infirmary
Armthorpe Road
Doncaster
DN2 5LT
United Kingdom

Phone +44 (0)1302 366666 ext 4750
Email muhammad.kanaa@dbh.nhs.uk

Study information

Study designMulti-center prospective randomised controlled study
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typePrevention
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Scientific titleMulti-center, prospective, randomised, controlled study to assess the efficacy of Cathasept line lock to reduce microbial colonization of tunneled hemodialysis catheters
Study objectivesNull hypothesis: There is no statistically significant difference in the percentage of cases with colonised catheters between the Cathasept group and the heparin group.
Ethics approval(s)Leeds (West) Medical Research Ethics Committee, 07/03/2006, ref: 05/Q1205/241
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedMicrobial colonisation of tunnelled haemodialysis catheters
InterventionEligible participants were randomly assigned to have their catheter locked with standard Heparin 5000 units/ml (control group) or with Cathasept (intervention group). Participants underwent weekly culture of 1 ml of blood aspirated from their catheters to check for microbial colonisation and were monitored for signs of infection and catheter dysfunction. Participants were followed up until their catheter was removed or for 8 months if the catheter was not removed.
Intervention typeDevice
Pharmaceutical study type(s)
Phase
Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s)
Primary outcome measureIncidence rate of clinically significant microbial colonization of t-HDC per 1000 catheter-days, defined as TCQBC yielding ≥1000 CFU/ml of bacteria or yeast.
Secondary outcome measures1. Incidence rate of CRBSI
2. Number of dialysis sessions where the prescribed blood flow was achieved
3. Incidence rate of interventions to improve catheter patency including intra-catheter lock or infusion of thrombolytic agents
4. Difference between both groups for hemoglobin, hs-CRP, serum ferritin, Kt/V, and iron and erythropoietin-stimulating requirements. Kt/V is a measurement used to quantify dialysis treatment adequacy (K is the dialyzer clearance of urea, t is the time spent on dialysis that day and not the prescribed time on dialysis, and V is the volume of distribution of urea which is approximately equal to total body water).
Overall study start date01/08/2006
Completion date31/10/2008

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
SexBoth
Target number of participants140
Key inclusion criteria1. Able to provide informed consent
2. History of established renal failure (ERF)
3. Starting or undergoing hemodialysis using a t-HDC in an internal jugular or subclavian vein
Key exclusion criteria1. Any medical, social or psychological condition that would compromise participation and follow-up in the study
2. Females who were pregnant or lactating
3. Patients who had a tunneled catheter with an expected duration of placement or use of less than 60 days
4. Patients enrolled in another clinical study, or had participated in the study
5. Life expectancy of less than 3 months
6. Patients with existing tunneled central venous catheters who had positive blood cultures or received antimicrobial therapy, including antibiotic lock solution and/or antimicrobial catheters, for documented or suspected CRBSI within 14 days prior to enrolment
7. Evidence of systemic infection or catheter exit site infection at the time of enrolment
8. Patients with colonized catheters (screening quantitative through catheter blood cultures (QTCBC) yielding >20 cfu/ml bacteria or yeasts)
9. Patients whose catheters demonstrated signs of dysfunction in two or more dialysis sessions during the last two weeks prior to enrolment. These signs were defined as:
9.1. Blood flow rate < 200 ml/min, or prescribed blood flow rate was not achieved, OR
9.2. Elevated venous pressure (>250 mmHg), or negative arterial pressure of greater than (-250 mmHg), OR
9.3. Line reversal (using the arterial port to aspirate and the venous port to return blood)
10. A known sensitivity to heparin, disodium EDTA, or natural rubber latex
Date of first enrolment01/08/2006
Date of final enrolment31/08/2008

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • England
  • United Kingdom

Study participating centres

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
LS9 7TF
United Kingdom
Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
BD5 0NA
United Kingdom
York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
YO31 8HE
United Kingdom
Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust and Hull York Medical School
HU3 2JZ
United Kingdom

Sponsor information

Tyco Healthcare Group LP d/b/a Covidien (USA)
Industry

Mansfield
Mansfield
02048
United States of America

ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/00grd1h17

Funders

Funder type

Charity

Yorkshire Kidney Research Fund

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareYes
IPD sharing plan summaryAvailable on request
Publication and dissemination planThe study is currently being considered for publication - a revised manuscript has been submitted.
IPD sharing plan

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Results article results 01/12/2015 Yes No

Editorial Notes

15/03/2016: Publication reference added.