Ethanol lock solution has been shown to prevent which process in the catheter lumen?

Ethanol lock solution has been shown to prevent which process in the catheter lumen?

• A. Fibrin sheath formation
• B. Red blood cell aggregation
• C. Bacterial toxin production
• D. Calcification of catheter lumen

Answer: (A)

Ethanol lock therapy works by sterilizing the catheter lumen and disrupting biofilms that bacteria form on the inner surface. When biofilms are prevented or disrupted, there’s less microbial colonization and inflammation at the catheter surface, which reduces the thrombotic changes that lead to fibrin deposition around the catheter. That’s why ethanol lock solutions have been shown to prevent fibrin sheath formation in the catheter lumen. The other options aren’t the primary target of this therapy: red blood cell aggregation, bacterial toxin production, and calcification aren’t the processes specifically addressed by lumen-disinfecting, biofilm-breaking action of ethanol locks.

Ethanol lock therapy works by sterilizing the catheter lumen and disrupting biofilms that bacteria form on the inner surface. When biofilms are prevented or disrupted, there’s less microbial colonization and inflammation at the catheter surface, which reduces the thrombotic changes that lead to fibrin deposition around the catheter. That’s why ethanol lock solutions have been shown to prevent fibrin sheath formation in the catheter lumen. The other options aren’t the primary target of this therapy: red blood cell aggregation, bacterial toxin production, and calcification aren’t the processes specifically addressed by lumen-disinfecting, biofilm-breaking action of ethanol locks.