# Effect of polyhexamethylene biguanide-coated central venous catheters on bacterial colonization in cancer patients undergoing abdominal surgery: a randomized controlled trial

## TL;DR

This study tested if PHMB-coated central venous catheters reduce bacterial colonization in cancer patients during abdominal surgery, finding limited overall benefit but some advantages for male patients.

## Contribution

The study provides new clinical evidence on the effectiveness of PHMB-coated catheters in a specific cancer patient population.

## Key findings

- PHMB-coated CVCs showed no significant reduction in overall bacterial colonization (2.5% vs. 4.2%).
- Hospital length of stay was significantly shorter for patients with PHMB-coated CVCs.
- Male patients in the PHMB group had reduced bacterial colonization compared to controls.

## Abstract

Central venous catheters (CVCs) are widely used in critically ill patients, including cancer patients, but are associated with complications such as catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs). This study evaluates the effectiveness of polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB)-coated CVCs in reducing catheter-tip bacterial colonization in cancer patients undergoing abdominal surgery.

A prospective, randomized, monocentric clinical trial was conducted at Peking University Cancer Hospital from March 2017 to April 2019. Surgical cancer patients requiring CVCs were randomized into two groups: a PHMB-coated CVC group (Certofix® protect) and a standard CVC group (Certofix®). The primary outcome was catheter tip bacterial colonization, and the secondary outcomes included catheter retention time and hospital length of stay.

A total of 1,185 patients were included in the analysis. The incidence of catheter tip bacterial colonization was 2.5% in the PHMB-coated group and 4.2% in the standard CVC group (p = 0.10). Hospital length of stay was significantly shorter in the PHMB-coated group (p < 0.001). Subgroup analysis showed reduced bacterial colonization in male patients in the PHMB-coated group (p = 0.04).

Polyhexamethylene biguanide-coated CVCs did not significantly reduce catheter tip bacterial colonization in the overall population but showed a beneficial effect in male cancer patients undergoing abdominal surgery. In clinical practice, it is necessary to consider various factors when selecting the type of catheter.

No. chiCTR-IPR-16010027.