Study	Reason for exclusion
Al‐Hwiesh 2007	RCT assessing the tunnelled cuff catheter with antibiotic lock compared with a standard untreated tunnelled cuff catheter for haemodialysis; outcomes included CRBSI and access site infections. Excluded on the basis of the population group and study design
Alderman 2005	A non‐randomized study comparing a central venous catheter with a silver‐impregnated cuff (Hohn catheter) with a polypropylene catheter in reducing central line infections and pulmonary embolism. Excluded on the basis of study design
Alonso‐Echanove 2003	A prospective observational study assessing risk and protective factors for CRBSI in 8 adult ICUs, including the type of CVC used, the main purpose of CVC use, nurse staffing and participant‐related variables. Excluded on the basis of study design
Anton 2009	A blinded single‐centre RCT assessing heparin‐bonded CVCs for infants with congenital heart disease, with risk of thrombosis as the main outcome. Excluded on the basis of the population group
Bambauer 1998	RCT assessing silver‐coated large‐bore catheters against untreated catheters for patients undergoing extracorporeal detoxification (haemodialysis), with major outcomes being bacterial catheter colonization and thrombogenicity. Excluded on the basis of the population group
Bambauer 2000	A similar study to Bambauer 1998, assessing silver‐coated large‐bore catheters against untreated catheters for patients undergoing extracorporeal detoxification (haemodialysis), with major outcomes of bacterial catheter colonization and thombogenicity. This differed from Bambauer 1998 only in the total number of participants. Excluded on the basis of the population group
Betjes 2004	RCT assessing catheters locked with either heparin or a citrate‐containing solution in reducing catheter‐related infections for patients undergoing haemodialysis. Excluded on the basis of the population group.
Borschel 2006	A pre‐test post‐test cohort study comparing CRBSI rates 2 years after the universal introduction of C‐SS‐impregnated CVCs in an adult ICU 2 years before the introduction of the impregnated catheters. Costs were also included as an outcome. Excluded on the basis of study design
Carbon 1999	A two‐part study assessing catheter‐related infections before and after the introduction silver‐impregnated CVC for long‐term therapy in children. The first part was a retrospective analysis of catheter‐related infections during a six‐year period (1990‐1995) when conventional, untreated catheters were used, and the second part comprised an RCT comparing catheter‐related infections in silver‐impregnated catheters and untreated catheters. Excluded on the basis of the population group, as the study only included children
Casey 2012	RCT comparing the effectiveness of silver‐coated versus non‐coated needleless intravascular connector of CVCs. Excluded on the basis of intervention
Chaftari 2011	A retrospective cohort study involving cancer patients with a CVC in place who had developed CRBSI. The study compared the outcomes of patients who had their catheters exchanged with MR‐coated catheters versus those who had their catheter removed upon the diagnosis of CRBSI. Excluded on the basis of study design
Chatzinikolaou 2003	RCT comparing MR‐coated catheters with uncoated catheters in reducing catheter‐related infections in patients with acute renal failure requiring haemodialysis. Excluded on the basis of the population group
Chelliah 2007	A prospective observational study on the catheter type (antimicrobial‐coated and uncoated) and catheter‐related infections in children. Excluded on the basis of the population group
Cherry‐Bukowiec 2009	A before‐and‐after trial comparing CRBSI between 2 periods, from November 2006 to October 2007, during which time C‐SS‐impregnated CVCs were used universally, and from November 2007 to October 2008, during which time uncoated CVCs were used universally in the ICU. Excluded on the basis of study design.
Dahlberg 1995	RCT comparing the use of a haemodialysis catheter with a silver‐impregnated cuff with a standard non‐impregnated catheter in reducing catheter‐related infections. Excluded on the basis of the population group
Frank 2003	A study on the development of a cost‐effectiveness model of the antiseptic‐impregnated CVCs in a single hospital setting using a two‐step approach: firstly, a prospectively planned comparison between the overall cost of care of a group of 30 patients who had developed catheter‐related infections over a 15‐month period from 1998 to 1999 and 20 matching controls without catheter‐related infections, and secondly, an estimate of the difference in catheter‐related infections through the use of antiseptic‐impregnated CVCs via a meta‐analysis of studies comparing antiseptic‐impregnated versus non‐impregnated CVCs. Excluded on the basis of study design
Garland 2001	RCT comparing 2 antiseptic‐impregnated catheter dressings for preventing CVC‐related infections in neonates. Excluded on the basis of the population group, as the study only included neonates
Geyik 2010	An in‐vitro study comparing 3 types of CVCs (C‐SS, MR and rifampicin‐miconazole‐coated catheters) in their antifungal activities against Candida albicans. Excluded on the basis of study type and lack of a population group.
Guggenbichler 2003	A prospective observational study involving a single group of participants who were patients in a critical care unit. All participants received silver‐coated CVCs, and there was no control group. Excluded on the basis of study design
Halton 2009	A cost‐effectiveness analysis of 4 types of antimicrobial‐impregnated CVCs (MR, SPC and 2 types of C‐SS‐impregnated catheters, 1 with external coating only and the other with both internal and external coatings). The analysis was not based on any single RCT. Excluded on the basis of study design
Hanley 2000	A retrospective review of the factors that influenced CRBSI in an ICU, including the use of antiseptic‐impregnated triple‐lumen CVCs. Excluded on the basis of study design
Hanna 2003	A non‐randomized, pre‐and‐post study comparing 2 periods in which different types of CVCs were used predominantly in the setting of an ICU in a university hospital. The 2 periods assessed were: September 1997 to August 1998, during which most of the CVCs used were uncoated, and September 1998 to August 1999, during which most of the CVCs used were MR‐impregnated. Excluded on the basis of study design
Hitz 2012	An RCT that compared an athrombogenic CVC coating against conventional, uncoated CVC. The coating was not designed to be antimicrobial in nature, and although infection was included as a secondary outcome, it was measured as late complication, of up to 6 months post‐CVC insertion, and there was no definition of infection provided. Excluded on the basis of intervention and outcome measurement
Jacob 2011	A prospective cross‐over study comparing a silver‐coated CVC against a standard non‐coated CVC. Excluded on the basis of study design
Jansen 1992	A paper describing an in‐vitro experiment in which a CVC was coated with iodine and challenged with Staphylococcus epidermidis. The degree of bacterial inhibition was then assessed. Excluded on the basis of study design.
Jung 2005	A retrospective analysis of participant characteristics, catheter insertion site and catheter‐related infections with respect to the type of CVC (C‐SS‐impregnated or non‐impregnated) inserted. Excluded on the basis on study design
Khare 2007	A prospective sequential study in an adult critical care unit comparing the universal use of silver zeolite‐impregnated polyurethane catheters for 7 months with non‐impregnated polyurethane catheters for the next 7 months, with the main outcome being catheter‐related colonization. Excluded on the basis of study design
Krafte‐Jacobs 1995	A prospective controlled trial in children, comparing heparin‐bonded femoral venous catheters versus standard unbonded catheters in reducing catheter‐related infection and thrombosis. Excluded on the basis of population group
Lenz 2010	RCT comparing C‐SS‐impregnated CVCs against uncoated catheters in children admitted to the cardiac ICU. Minor outcomes included catheter‐related infection and costs. Excluded on the basis of population group
Levy 2005	RCT comparing chlorhexidine‐impregnated CVC dressing against standard catheters without impregnated dressing in reducing catheter colonization for infants and children. Excluded on the basis of population group and intervention
Marin 2000	A meta‐analysis of 11 studies comparing antimicrobial‐impregnated and heparin‐bonded central venous catheters in reducing CRBSI, Excluded on the basis of study design
Misra 2014	RCT comparing the effects of 2 methods of placing new CVCs: guide wire exchange method versus new insertion. All CVCs used in the study were treated with antiseptics. Excluded on the basis on intervention
Pierce 2000	RCT comparing heparin‐bonded CVC and standard non‐bonded catheters in reducing catheter‐related thrombosis and infection in children. Excluded on the basis of the population group
Richards 2003	A non‐randomized, block clinical trial in which all participants in the first 2 months of study received the C‐SS‐coated catheters and all in the next 2 months received non‐coated catheters. The allocation would alternate on a two‐monthly basis. Excluded on the basis of study design
Roberts 1998	RCT comparing CVCs modified with Biopatch dressing with standard unmodified catheters in reducing catheter‐related infection. Excluded on the basis of the intervention
Ruschulte 2009	RCT using C‐SS‐impregnated CVCs throughout, and comparing catheters with a chlorhexidine gluconate‐impregnated wound dressing versus those with a standard unimpregnated dressing for reducing catheter‐related infections in people undergoing cancer chemotherapy. Excluded on the basis of the intervention
Schmitt 1996	A series of in‐vitro experiments assessing the duration of antiseptic effects of C‐SS‐impregnated CVCs and unimpregnated catheters when challenged by Staphyloccocus epidermidis. Excluded on the basis of study design
Schuerer 2007	A before‐and‐after trial comparing CRBSI before and after the universal use of C‐SS‐impregnated CVCs in an ICU with a low baseline CRBSI rate. Excluded on the basis of study design
Schutze 2002	A review article on 2 major types of antimicrobial‐impregnated CVCs (C‐SS and MR) in general and for children. Excluded on the basis of study design
Sherertz 1997	RCT comparing C‐SS‐impregnated peripheral venous catheters against non‐impregnated catheters for reducing phlebitis. Excluded on the basis of the intervention
Timsit 2010a	A cost‐effectiveness analysis of a previously published study (Timsit 2009), comparing chlorhexidine‐impregnated sponges against less frequent dressing changes in critically ill patients with a CVC in place. Excluded on the basis of study design and intervention
Timsit 2010b	A conference abstract that described a prospective, non‐randomized study in the form of a multicentre questionnaire survey assessing various possible risk factors for catheter‐related infections. Excluded on the basis of study design
Trerotola 1998	RCT comparing silver‐coated haemodialysis catheters against standard uncoated catheters in reducing catheter‐related infection, venous thrombosis and stenosis. Excluded on the basis of the population
Vokurka 2009	A non‐randomized study in which C‐SS‐impregnated CVCs were used in a group of participants, and their outcomes compared with a group of historical controls. Excluded on the basis of study design
Wong 2010	RCT comparing antibiotic‐impregnated ventricular catheters against conventional non‐impregnated catheters coupled with systemic antibiotics in people undergoing emergency neurosurgical procedures for reducing cerebrospinal fluid infections. Excluded on the basis of population group
Ye 2011	An economic analysis of the use of a chlorhexidine‐impregnated sponge dressing for preventing CVC‐related infections. The data from this study were taken from several published studies and not from a single RCT. Excluded on the basis of study design and intervention type
Yorganci 2002	An in‐vitro study in which a sample of 150 catheter segments from 4 catheter types (3 antiseptic bonded and 1 uncoated) were tested for bactericidal and bacteriostatic activities against Klebsiella pneumonia. Excluded on the basis of study design

Abbreviations

CRBSI = catheter‐related bloodstream infection
 CVC = central venous catheter
 C‐SS = chlorhexidine‐silver sulphadiazine 
 ICU = intensive care unit
 MR = minocycline‐rifampicin
 RCT = randomized controlled trial
 SPC = silver‐platinum‐carbon