Abstract

Background Infections are common complications of neonatal long lines. Heparin has been shown to prolong the effective duration of neonatal long lines and to reduce the ability of bacteria to adhere to foreign surfaces, but the effect of heparin on rates of infection is uncertain.

Objective The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of heparin on the frequency of episodes of catheter-related sepsis (CRS) in infants receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN) through a neonatal long line.

Design/Methods This randomised, controlled, double blind, single-centre clinical trial compared heparin at 0.5 IU/ml with no heparin in TPN infused through a neonatal long line, with episodes of CRS as the primary outcome.

Results 210 infants were enrolled (TPN with heparin n=102, TPN without heparin n=108). There was a statistically significant reduction in all episodes of culture-positive CRS in those infants with heparin added to the TPN compared with those without heparin (p=0.04; RR 0.57, 95% CI 0.32 to 0.98; number needed to treat 9, 95% CI 4.6 to 212.4).

Conclusions The addition of heparin at 0.5 IU/ml to TPN infused through a neonatal long line reduces the incidence of culture-positive CRS.