Central Line Bloodstream InfectionsNCT00964093
The Effectiveness of Silver Alginate (Algidex) Patch in the Prevention of Central Line Infections in Very Low Birth Weight Infants
A study testing Silver Alginate in people with Central Line Bloodstream Infections, run by Baylor Research Institute at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The purpose of this study is to determine whether silver alginate (Algidex) patch is effective in the prevention of central line infections in very low birth weight infants. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 1 day to 3 weeks
- Conditions the study is for
- Central Line Bloodstream Infections
- What is being tested?
- Silver Alginate
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 100 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 23 Nov 2008to 20 Aug 2015
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 1 day to 3 weeks
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child
Who may be able to join
- Infants with birth weights between 500 and 1500 grams admitted to the NICU with any of the following lines will be eligible for inclusion in this study
- umbilical arterial line (UAL)
- umbilical venous line (UVL)
- peripheral arterial line (PAL)
- peripheral long line (PLL)
- central venous line (CVL)
- Each eligible subject will be randomized to receive either standard of care or silver alginate dressing. Dressings will be changed every 7 days in accordance to current facility protocols.
Who cannot join
- 1. Any infant born with a lethal abnormality or who has received topical Silver therapy will be excluded from the study.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
Baylor University Medical Center - Women and Children's Services
Dallas, Texas, 75204
About this study
Official title: The Efficacy of Silver Alginate (Algidex®) Dressing in Reducing Central Line Infections in Very Low Birth Weight (VLBW) Infants: A Multicenter Collaborative Randomized Controlled Trial.
The purpose of this study is to determine whether silver alginate (Algidex) patch is effective in the prevention of central line infections in very low birth weight infants.
Read the detailed description
With rapid technological advancement, the increased use of vascular catheters has not only improved patient care strategies, but also contributed to the risk of infection. Unfortunately, catheter related blood stream infections still remain one of the major causes of morbidity in VLBW infants. In the United States, approximately 850,000 infections are attributed to catheters annually, occurring primarily in intensive care unit patients. The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development stated that 20% of infants less than 1500 grams will have at least one positive blood culture delaying their stay in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
One approach to reducing the incidence of infection could be utilizing the antimicrobial properties of silver. Silver alginate has been proven safe and beneficial in the adult population in preventing catheter related infections. Studies done in mice and rats suggest acute toxicity occurring when the animals were given 23 mg of silver acetate/kg of body weight and chronic toxicity noticed when animals were given 1.5 mg/kg/day (5) Chronic toxicity in humans was shown with ingestion of 13 mg/kg/day (3) In our recently concluded pilot randomized controlled trial done in VLBW infants, safety of silver alginate was demonstrated by lack of skin reactions to the patches and mild increase in serum silver level ( Khattak et al; Pediatrics research March 2008, clinicaltrials.gov id: NCT00593684 ). However, there is no clinical evidence of efficacy in VLBW neonatal population. Based on the data from our pilot safety study, we hypothesize that using silver alginate dressing in this population will be efficacious in the prevention of blood stream infections. Although initial studies suggest that absorbed silver is not in a range toxic to human infants, we will continue to monitor silver levels in certain infants.
- Conditions
- Central Line Bloodstream Infections
- Being tested
- Silver Alginate
- Keywords
- premature, infection, central line, very low birth weight, silver alginate, Algidex, neonatal, NICU
- Medical subject headings
- Premature Birth, Infections
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Silver AlginateDevice
(Algidex ™)
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| No intervention | No intervention | Not described Receives: Device: Silver Alginate |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
The primary objective of this trial is to assess the efficacy of silver alginate dressing in reducing central line infections in VLBW infants
Measured: 2 years
Secondary outcomes (1)
The secondary objectives are to compare mortality and total days of hospitalization between the groups. Safety will be assessed by obtaining silver levels, skin integrity, and adverse events related to the dressing.
Measured: 2 years
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted24 Aug 2009 (estimated)
- Study start23 Nov 2008
- Primary completion25 Aug 2014
- Study completion20 Aug 2015
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Central Line Bloodstream InfectionsStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Baylor Research InstituteThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Enrolment
- 100 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Baylor Research Institute
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- DeRoyal Industries, Inc.
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Asif Khattak, MD, Principal investigator, Baylor Health Care SystemDavid M Kanter, MD, Principal investigator, St. Mary's Medical Center, West Palm Beach, FL
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT00964093
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 008-299
- Status last verified
- Jan 2026
- First submitted
- 21 Aug 2009
- Last updated
- 23 Mar 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 23 Mar 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Efficacy of Silver Alginate (Algidex®) Dressing in Reducing Central Line Infections in Very Low Birth Weight (VLBW) Infants: A Multicenter Collaborative Randomized Controlled Trial.
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT00964093
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 008-299
- Conditions
- Central Line Bloodstream Infections
- Keywords
- premature, infection, central line, very low birth weight, silver alginate, Algidex, neonatal, NICU
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 100 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Baylor Research InstituteUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- DeRoyal Industries, Inc.
- Study start
- 23 Nov 2008 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 25 Aug 2014 (actual)
- Study completion
- 20 Aug 2015 (actual)
- First posted
- 24 Aug 2009 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The purpose of this study is to determine whether silver alginate (Algidex) patch is effective in the prevention of central line infections in very low birth weight infants.
Detailed description
With rapid technological advancement, the increased use of vascular catheters has not only improved patient care strategies, but also contributed to the risk of infection. Unfortunately, catheter related blood stream infections still remain one of the major causes of morbidity in VLBW infants. In the United States, approximately 850,000 infections are attributed to catheters annually, occurring primarily in intensive care unit patients. The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development stated that 20% of infants less than 1500 grams will have at least one positive blood culture delaying their stay in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
One approach to reducing the incidence of infection could be utilizing the antimicrobial properties of silver. Silver alginate has been proven safe and beneficial in the adult population in preventing catheter related infections. Studies done in mice and rats suggest acute toxicity occurring when the animals were given 23 mg of silver acetate/kg of body weight and chronic toxicity noticed when animals were given 1.5 mg/kg/day (5) Chronic toxicity in humans was shown with ingestion of 13 mg/kg/day (3) In our recently concluded pilot randomized controlled trial done in VLBW infants, safety of silver alginate was demonstrated by lack of skin reactions to the patches and mild increase in serum silver level ( Khattak et al; Pediatrics research March 2008, clinicaltrials.gov id: NCT00593684 ). However, there is no clinical evidence of efficacy in VLBW neonatal population. Based on the data from our pilot safety study, we hypothesize that using silver alginate dressing in this population will be efficacious in the prevention of blood stream infections. Although initial studies suggest that absorbed silver is not in a range toxic to human infants, we will continue to monitor silver levels in certain infants.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| No intervention | No intervention | Device: Silver Alginate |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 1 day to 3 weeks
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child
Key inclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Infants with birth weights between 500 and 1500 grams admitted to the NICU with any of the following lines will be eligible for inclusion in this study
- Each eligible subject will be randomized to receive either standard of care or silver alginate dressing. Dressings will be changed every 7 days in accordance to current facility protocols.
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- 1. Any infant born with a lethal abnormality or who has received topical Silver therapy will be excluded from the study.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Silver Alginate(Algidex ™) | Device | No intervention |
Primary outcome
The primary objective of this trial is to assess the efficacy of silver alginate dressing in reducing central line infections in VLBW infants
Time frame: 2 years
1 secondary outcome
The secondary objectives are to compare mortality and total days of hospitalization between the groups. Safety will be assessed by obtaining silver levels, skin integrity, and adverse events related to the dressing.
Time frame: 2 years
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 23 Mar 2026.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Asif Khattak, MD principal investigator
Baylor Health Care System
David M Kanter, MD principal investigator
St. Mary's Medical Center, West Palm Beach, FL
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Silver Alginate in people with Central Line Bloodstream Infections, run by Baylor Research Institute at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 7 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 23 Mar 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
The primary objective of this trial is to assess the efficacy of silver alginate dressing in reducing central line infections in VLBW infants (time frame: 2 years). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 23 Mar 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 6 Nov 2026.