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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
Comparative evaluation of five needleless intravenous connectors
Cynthia Chernecky1, Jennifer Waller
1School of Nursing, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, Georgia, USA. cchernecky@mcg.edu
Journal of Advanced Nursing
|March 4, 2011
Summary
The RyMed-5001 needleless connector demonstrated the lowest bacterial colony forming units (CFUs) in vitro, indicating superior protection against bacterial contamination compared to other tested connectors. This finding is crucial for preventing bloodstream infections and occlusions in patients.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
- Medical Device Evaluation
- Infection Prevention and Control
Background:
- Colony forming units (CFUs) are critical indicators in bloodstream infections and catheter occlusions.
- Protecting the intraluminal pathway is essential for reducing catheter-related bloodstream infections and occlusions.
- Selecting optimal medical devices can significantly improve patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare in vitro differences in colony forming units (CFUs) among five intravenous needleless connectors.
- To evaluate bacterial growth of four specific bacteria (Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli) over four days.
- To assess the performance of three negative, one positive, and one zero-control connectors using bovine blood.
Main Methods:
- An independent laboratory conducted in vitro evaluations of five different needleless connectors in 2009.
- The study assessed colony forming units (CFUs) for four distinct bacterial species over a four-day period.
- Bovine blood was used as the growth medium for bacterial cultures within the connectors.
Main Results:
- The Q-Syte™ connector showed poor performance across all tested organisms (P<0·0001).
- MaxPlus® Clear and MicroCLAVE® connectors exhibited fluctuating CFU counts, ranging from high to zero.
- The TKO™Clave® connector consistently maintained high CFU counts (up to 50.8).
- The RyMed-5001® connector demonstrated the best performance with very low CFU counts, ranging from 2.25 to zero.
Conclusions:
- Non-antimicrobial needleless connectors exhibit significant in vitro differences in bacterial CFU counts.
- The RyMed-5001® connector provided the best protection of the intraluminal pathway against bacterial colonization compared to the other four connectors.
- Needleless connectors represent a statistically significant variable (50%) in the development of occlusions and infections, necessitating careful selection by healthcare professionals.
