Ethanol is an effective antimicrobial agent with activity against a broad spectrum of human pathogens; including the bacteria and fungi which most commonly infect CVLs. The mechanism of the antimicrobial activity of ethanol is attributed to the ability to denature proteins and induced resistance to the effect of ethanol has not been reported. These features suggest that ethanol-lock is a promising approach to the prevention of acquisition of central line associated blood stream infections by the intraluminal route.