Anti- activity of antimicrobial impregnated central venous catheters.

BACKGROUND

Whenever the rate of central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) remains high even after the implementation of preventive strategies, the use of chlorhexidine/silver sulfadiazine (CSS) or minocycline/rifampin (MR)-impregnated central venous catheters (CVCs) is currently recommended. Nevertheless, the efficacy of such CVCs against and other emerging non- spp. has been insufficiently studied. This study aims to compare the activity of CSS and MR-impregnated CVCs against the yeasts most frequently isolated from CLABSIs.

METHODS

For biofilm formation assays, type strains and clinical isolates of , and sensu stricto were used. Segments of standard polyurethane, MR and second-generation CSS-CVCs were tested. The biofilm metabolic activity was measured by a semi-quantitative XTT reduction assay.

RESULTS

CSS catheter segments significantly reduced the biofilm metabolic activity by all tested spp., with inhibition ranging from 60% to 100%. The MR catheter segments promoted and biofilm formation and exhibited an inconspicuous effect against .

CONCLUSIONS

Among the recommended antimicrobial CVCs, CSS-CVCs proved to be superior in the inhibition of biofilm formation by the most frequent yeasts causing CLABSIs. Data from this in vitro study may suggest that patients at high risk for invasive candidosis could benefit from the use of CSS-CVCs.