International Journal of Nursing

Use of Antibiotic Lock Therapy with Long-Term Central Venous Catheters
Eluiza Antonieta Moretto, Paula Elaine Diniz dos Reis, Christiane Inocêncio Vasques, Fernanda Titareli Merizio Martins Braga, Mariana Ehmke Dolci, Renata Cristina de Campos Pereira Silveira

Abstract
Long-term central venous catheters are indicated for patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Antibiotic lock therapy (ALT) is used to prevent infection in patients with indwelling catheters. However, to date, there is no consensus on the use of ALT. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to assess the use of central venous catheters for ALT by nursing teams from HSCT centres in Brazil. Twenty-two centres were included. The results indicated that 73% of the centres were aware of ALT and 87% used it. ALT had been used for more than 5 years by 43% of the centres. Moreover, 43% of the centres used antibiotics plus heparin and 43% used vancomycin only. These results provide an overview of the use of ALT in care services by nurses from HSCT centres as a strategy for preventing the early removal of central venous catheters.

Full Text: PDF     DOI: 10.15640/ijn.v5n1a2