A central venous catheter coated with benzalkonium chloride for the prevention of catheter-related microbial colonization

In an attempt to overcome infections associated with central venous cathete rs, a new antiseptic central venous catheter coated with benzalkonium chlor ide on the internal and external surfaces has been developed and evaluated in a clinical trial. Patients (235) randomly received either a triple-lumen central venous catheter coated with benzalkonium chloride (117) or a polyu rethane non-antiseptic catheter (118). The incidence of microbial colonizat ion of both catheters and retained antiseptic activity of the benzalkonium chloride device following removal were determined. The benzalkonium chlorid e resulted in a significant reduction of the incidence of microbial coloniz ation on both the internal and external catheter surfaces. The reduction in colonization was detected at both the intradermal (21 benzalkonium chlorid e catheters vs. 38 controls, P= 0.0016) and distal segments of the antisept ic-coated catheters. Following catheter removal retained activity was demon strated in benzalkonium chloride catheters which had been in place for up t o 12 days. No patients developed adverse reactions to the benzalkonium chlo ride catheters. The findings demonstrate that the benzalkonium chloride cat heter significantly reduced the incidence of catheter-associated colonizati on.