Antibiofilm efficacy

of TauroLock™ lock solutions

The formation of biofilms occurs in virtually all catheters, starting immediately after insertion. Biofilm consists of several substances:

blood material
fibrinous sheath
minerals
lipids
drugs
bacteria, fungi, and the matrix which these microorganisms produce

TauroLock™ lock solutions contain 4 % citrate and heparin in two optional concentrations. Due to their anticoagulant properties, the two active ingredients prevent the deposition of fibrin. This in turn inhibits the formation of a nidus to which microorganisms might adhere. The fibrinolytic urokinase even serves to remove this part of the biofilm.

NutriLock™ and all TauroLock™ lock solutions contain taurolidine.
This active ingredient exerts a strong antimicrobial efficacy.
It effectively prevents the colonisation, proliferation, and survival of bacteria and fungi in catheters or ports.

Studies on antibiofilm efficacy

Study by Hogan et al.

“…The antiseptics ethanol and Taurolock were shown to be most effective at inactivating biofilm; this was evident against all stages of biofilm investigated...“

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Study by Torres-Viera et al.

“In vitro, the antimicrobial agent taurolidine inhibited virtually all of the bacteria tested, including vancomycin-resistant enterococci, oxacillin-resistant staphylococci, and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, at concentrations between 250 and 2,000 mg/ml. Taurolidine was not effective in experimental endocarditis. While it appears unlikely that this antimicrobial would be useful for systemic therapy, its bactericidal activity and the resistance rates found (<10^-9) are favorable indicators for its possible development for topical use.”

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Study by Jiménez Hernández et al.

“…This prospective study included 35 haemodialysis patients with tunnelled cuffed catheter removal for non-infection-related reasons. The participants were divided into three groups according to the lock solution used: (1) heparin I: 5000 lU; (2) citrate 4%; and (3) taurolidine 1.35%. citrate 4% and heparin 500 lU (taurolock); in the latter group, 25.000 lU taurolidine-urokinase was used in the last weekly session. All tunnelled cuffed catheters were cultured, and the inner surface was evaluated with confocal and electron microscopy. ...Our results show that biofilms were found in all tunnelled cuffed catheters, but the thickness and volume were significantly lower in tunnelled cuffed catheters locked with taurolidine solution…”