Use of taurolidine in lung transplantation for cystic fibrosis and impact on bacterial colonization

The presence of bacterial colonization that causes chronic pulmonary infections in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients remains a key issue before lung transplantation. We sought to assess the impact of intraoperative taurolidine lavage on bacterial colonization and long-term outcomes following lung transplantation in CF patients. Between 2007 and 2013, 114 CF patients underwent lung transplantation at our institute, and taurolidine 2% bronchial lavage was applied in a substantial proportion of patients (n = 42). A detailed analysis of donor and recipient bacterial colonization status in treatment and control groups and their impact on outcome was performed. The proportion of recipients colonized with Pseudomonas aeruginosa was lower in the taurolidine group at 3 months (P < 0.001) and at 1 year (P = 0.053) postoperatively, despite no differences before transplant (P = 1.000). Moreover, a complete eradication of Burkholderia cepacia and Stenotrophomonas maltophilias colonizations could be achieved in the taurolidine group, whereas in the non-taurolidine group, persistent B. cepacia and S. maltophilias colonizations were observed. Early outcome in the taurolidine group was superior regarding fraction of expired volume in 1 s at 3 and 6 months after surgery with 74.5 +/- 14.6 vs 60.4 +/- 17.5 (P < 0.001) and 80.6 +/- 16.9 vs 67.2 +/- 19.4 (P = 0.005) percent of predicted values, respectively. In terms of long-term overall survival (P = 0.277) and freedom from bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (P = 0.979), both groups were comparable. Taurolidine might be associated with a reduced proportion of CF patients colonized with multiresistant pathogens, particularly with P. aeruginosa. Long-term results should be further assessed in larger multicentre trials.