Trerotola SO, Kraus M, Johnson MS, Harris VJ, Snidow JJ, Shah H, McKusky M
Randomized study of silver coating (Silvergard) for prevention of infection in tunneled hemodialysis catheters
Am Soc Nephrol
J Am Soc Nephrol (abstract) (Sep) 7:1422 1996

For a long time there has been interest in knowing if the Silvergard is of any benefit in preventing infections. The data in non dialysis central vein catheters was soft and not significant. There was no data on dialysis catheters until this report.

The authors randomized some 100 patients having a tunneled right IJ cath. into either a treatment or a control group. Mean catheter duration was 70d. At the time of catheter removal, catheter tips were cultured. Two catheters (5 %) were removed due to allergic reaction to the coating. The findings were that the silver coating does not confer any benefit against infection or colonization.

Comment: These results confirm a long suspected lack of benefit in using silver coated catheters. They also point out that a more likely pathway for bacterial infection is not at the catheter entry site but at the junction of the catheter end ports with the dialysis tubing. (Jose Ganel, M.D., University of California Davis at Sacramento, CA)

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Am Soc Nephrol
Basic hemodialysis : Vascular Access: venous