Bacterial counts in canine duodenal fluid after exposure to saline, sodium bicarbonate and hypertonic dextrose solutions used to maintain patency of chronically implanted catheters

Abstract

Flushing of intestinal vascular access ports (VAPs) is commonly performed to prevent the problems of blockage and infection, and in this study four different flushing solutions were compared. The growth of bacteria from canine duodenal contents was compared in: 0.9% saline, 50% dextrose, 8.4% sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) and 0.01 M phosphate buffered saline (PBS). Duodenal contents from three laboratory beagles were serially diluted in these four solutions, spread plated onto agar at 24 h periods for 7 days and bacterial counts were performed. Immediately after the duodenal juices were added, no significant differences could be seen in bacterial counts with any of the solutions. Over the 7 day period, bacterial numbers greatly increased in saline and phosphate buffered saline, but greatly decreased in dextrose and sodium bicarbonate solutions. Dextrose and sodium bicarbonate appeared to be the most promising flushing solutions tested to minimize infections of associated intestinal VAPs.