Methods and compositions for decontaminating PD catheters

1 . A method of performing peritoneal dialysis (PD), the method comprising:

delivering a PD fluid to a peritoneal cavity of a patient through a PD catheter;

dwelling the PD fluid within the peritoneal cavity; and

while dwelling the PD fluid, removing a biofilm from a PD catheter wall using a biofilm removing solution,

wherein the biofilm removing solution consists of:

sodium citrate dihydrate;

citric acid anhydrous;

an alkyl sulfonate; and

water.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the alkyl sulfonate is a metal sulfonate.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the metal sulfonate is sodium lauryl sulfate.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the biofilm removing solution has:

sodium citrate dihydrate in a concentration range of about 32.13 g/L to about 39.27 g/L;

citric acid anhydrous in a concentration range of about 29.25 g/L to about 35.75 g/L;

sodium lauryl sulfate in a concentration range of about 0.95 g/L to about 1.05 g/L; and

water.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the biofilm removing solution has

a pH value in the range of about 3.70 to about 4.10;

a total citrates in a concentration range of about 57.45 g/L to about 70.21 g/L; and

a specific gravity in range of about 1.025 to about 1.042.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the alkyl sulfonate is in a concentration range of about 0.61 g/L to about 1.10 g/L.

7 . A method of performing peritoneal dialysis (PD), the method comprising:

delivering a PD fluid to a peritoneal cavity of a patient through a PD catheter;

dwelling the PD fluid within the peritoneal cavity; and

while dwelling the PD fluid, removing a biofilm from a PD catheter wall using a biofilm removing solution,

wherein the biofilm removing solution consists of:

sodium citrate dihydrate;

citric acid anhydrous;

an alkyl sulfonate;

water; and

an antimicrobial ingredient.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the antimicrobial ingredient is selected from the group consisting of: an antibiotic, a bleach and silver sulfadiazine.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the PD fluid further includes an antibiotic for treating bacteria exposed by the removed biofilm.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of removing the biofilm from the PD catheter wall using the biofilm removing solution comprises:

transferring the biofilm removing solution into a syringe;

fluidly communicating the syringe with a transfer set located along the PD catheter; and

filling the transfer set and the PD catheter with the biofilm removing solution.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the step of removing the biofilm from the PD catheter wall using the biofilm removing solution further comprises:

closing a transfer set valve to keep the biofilm removing solution in the transfer set and the PD catheter for a first period of time.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the first period of time is between about 1 hour and about 12 hours.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the first period of time is between about 1 hour and about 1.8 hours.

14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the first period of time is about 1.5 hours.

15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the step of removing a biofilm from the PD catheter wall using the biofilm removing solution further comprises removing the biofilm removing solution, the PD fluid and the biofilm.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the step of removing the biofilm removing solution, the PD fluid and the biofilm comprises:

replacing the syringe with appropriate fluid connection(s) to an effluent bag or other drain; and

opening the transfer set valve to drain the biofilm removing solution and the PD fluid into the effluent bag or other drain via gravity or pumping,

wherein the biofilm removing solution and the PD fluid comprise the biofilm removed from the transfer set and the PD catheter.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the biofilm is removed from inner walls of the transfer set and the PD catheter and an outer wall of a portion of the PD catheter located within a patient's peritoneal cavity.

18 . A method of performing peritoneal dialysis (PD), the method comprising:

pumping a PD fluid including a biofilm removing solution to a peritoneal cavity of a patient through a PD catheter;

dwelling the PD fluid including a biofilm removing solution within the peritoneal cavity; and

while dwelling the PD fluid including a biofilm removing solution, removing a biofilm from the PD catheter wall via the biofilm removing solution,

wherein the biofilm removing solution consists of:

sodium citrate dihydrate;

citric acid anhydrous;

an alkyl sulfonate; and

water.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the PD fluid further includes an antibiotic for treating bacteria exposed by the removed biofilm.

20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the alkyl sulfonate is sodium lauryl sulfate.

21 . A method of removing at least a portion of a biofilm present in a lumen of an indwelling peritoneal catheter while performing peritoneal dialysis therapy, the method comprising:

delivering a dialysis fluid to a peritoneal cavity of a patient through the catheter;

injecting a biofilm removing solution into the lumen of the catheter to occupy at least a portion of the lumen;

dwelling the dialysis fluid within the peritoneal cavity; and

removing at least a portion of the biofilm removing solution from the catheter by withdrawing at least a portion of the dialysis fluid from the peritoneal cavity into the catheter,

wherein the biofilm removing solution consists of:

sodium citrate dihydrate;

citric acid anhydrous;

an alkyl sulfonate; and

water.

22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the alkyl sulfonate is sodium lauryl sulfate.