Topical Antibiotics for Prevention of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Central Line Infections

Condition(s) targeted: Blood Stream Infections; Skin Diseases, Infectious

Intervention: Polysporin Triple Therapy ointment (Drug); Petroleum Jelly (Other)

Phase: N/A

Status: Withdrawn

Sponsored by: Fraser Health

Official(s) and/or principal investigator(s):
Steven Reynolds, MD, Principal Investigator, Affiliation: Fraser Health Authority

The purpose of the study is to determine if the overall central venous catheter related infection rate can be reduced by the application of Polysporin Triple Therapy ointment to the insertion site.

Official title: Pilot Study: Topical Antibiotics for Prevention of ICU Central Line Infections

Study design: Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Double Blind (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor), Primary Purpose: Prevention

Primary outcome: Overall number of line related infections (local and blood borne)

Secondary outcome:

Length of ICU stay

Length of hospital stay

Prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)

Detailed description: Previous studies in the dialysis population have found a reduction in local and system central venous catheter related infections with the application of topical antibiotics to the insertion point. One such study found a mortality benefit with Polysporin Triple Therapy ointment. We intend to determine if this preparation can reduce overall line infection rates in the ICU environment through its application at the time of line insertion and twice more the following week.

Minimum age: N/A. Maximum age: N/A. Gender(s): Both.

Criteria:

Inclusion Criteria:

- all patients admitted to the ICU requiring a central venous catheter

Exclusion Criteria:

- previous line infection during same ICU stay

- CVC for hemodialysis

Royal Columbian Hospital, New Westminster, British Columbia V3L 1A1, Canada

Related publications:

Lok CE, Stanley KE, Hux JE, Richardson R, Tobe SW, Conly J. Hemodialysis infection prevention with polysporin ointment. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2003 Jan;14(1):169-79.

James MT, Conley J, Tonelli M, Manns BJ, MacRae J, Hemmelgarn BR; Alberta Kidney Disease Network. Meta-analysis: antibiotics for prophylaxis against hemodialysis catheter-related infections. Ann Intern Med. 2008 Apr 15;148(8):596-605.

Starting date: November 2009
Last updated: May 28, 2015