Teleflex Catheters Cut ICU Infection Risk by Over 70%, Study Finds in 6-Country Trial

Teleflex Incorporated (NYSE:TFX), a leading global provider of medical technologies, today announced findings from a new multinational study reporting efficacy of Arrow™ Chlorhexidine-Impregnated Central Venous Catheters (CVCs). This prospective cohort study included more than 6,670 patients from 12 Intensive care units in eight hospitals across India, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Colombia, Egypt and Turkey.

Key highlights include:

• The pre-specified CVC subgroup analysis evaluated the impact of Chlorhexidine-impregnated CVCs on CLABSI rates using CLABSI rates per 1,000 CL (central-line)-days.
• 70.5% reduction in the incidence of CLABSI in patients with Arrowg+ard Blue™ and Arrowg+ard Blue Plus™ CVCs vs. plain (non-impregnated) catheters.
• Lower incidence of infection-causing pathogens with Chlorhexidine-impregnated CVCs, including gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria and fungi.
• Insertion training and the use of maximal barrier precautions were similar across both groups, eliminating technique variability as a confounding factor.
• Use of an unprotected CVC may be an independent risk factor for CLABSI when compared to patients with Chlorhexidine-impregnated CVCs.
  
   

The study's CVC analysis demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in CLABSIs of 70.5% in patients receiving the impregnated antimicrobial catheters. These patients had longer average length of ICU stay and device utilization ratios, indicating frequent and extended use. Despite this, infection remained significantly lower, underscoring the potential benefit of the antimicrobial technology even in high-risk patients. Acknowledging potential variations in patients and characteristics across study hospitals and the lack of a metric (e.g., Standard Infection Ratio) to adjust for these factors in the countries in the study, the authors noted that the study data nonetheless provides "significant evidence" regarding impregnated CVCs.