Ethanol lock therapy for the treatment of intravenous catheter infections that have failed standard treatment

Abstract

This study used ethanol lock therapy (ELT) to treat intravenous catheter infections that had failed standard intravenous antimicrobial treatment. Of 15 patients enrolled, 13 were successfully treated with ELT. Twenty-one organisms were identified: 12 bacteria, 9 fungi. Eight of the 9 fungi were eradicated, and no patient became hemodynamically unstable on treatment.