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A Protocol to Set Up Needle-Free Connector with Positive Displacement on Central Venous Catheter in Intensive Care Unit
Published on: July 13, 2019
In vitro comparisons of two antimicrobial intravenous connectors
Cynthia Chernecky1, Jennifer Waller
1Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, USA. cchernecky@mail.mcg.edu
Clinical Nursing Research
|August 17, 2010
Summary
Antimicrobial needleless connectors can harbor bacteria, increasing infection risk. The RyMed-7001(®) demonstrated the lowest bacterial colonization, unlike the Baxter V-Link™, highlighting the importance of connector design in preventing catheter-related bloodstream infections (CR-BSI).
Area of Science:
- Infection Control
- Medical Device Technology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Catheter-related bloodstream infections (CR-BSI) are a significant healthcare concern, with intraluminal contamination being a primary source.
- Organism migration through the fluid pathway of needleless connectors can lead to CR-BSI within 24 hours.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate and compare the in vitro bacterial colonization of different needleless connectors.
- To determine which antimicrobial needleless connector exhibited the least bacterial colony-forming units (CFUs).
- To compare antimicrobial connector performance against a leading nonantimicrobial connector.
Main Methods:
- An independent laboratory conducted in vitro testing on two antimicrobial (Baxter V-Link™, RyMed-7001 Nano(®)) and one nonantimicrobial (RyMed-5001) connector.
- Twenty connectors of each type were tested under identical laboratory conditions over four days, using four different organisms and three controls.
Main Results:
- The Baxter V-Link™ consistently produced 2.0 to 8.8 times more bacteria than both the RyMed-5001(®) and RyMed-7001(®) connectors.
- The RyMed-7001(®) demonstrated no consistent bacterial presence, while the Baxter V-Link™ showed the highest and most consistent bacterial counts (13,675 CFUs) over the study period.
Conclusions:
- Connector design, including technological features and antimicrobial coating methods, significantly impacts bacterial colonization.
- Healthcare professionals and researchers should consider these factors when selecting and evaluating needleless connectors to mitigate CR-BSI risks.
