Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 13, 2026
A Protocol to Set Up Needle-Free Connector with Positive Displacement on Central Venous Catheter in Intensive Care Unit
Published on: July 13, 2019
Pre-filled normal saline syringes to reduce totally implantable venous access device-associated bloodstream
S Bertoglio1, R Rezzo, F D Merlo
1Department of Surgical Sciences (DISC), University of Genova, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, Genoa, Italy. sergio.bertoglio@istge.it
Abstract:
Flushing totally implantable venous access devices (TIVADs) with manually filled saline syringes may increase contamination and catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI). We used a retrospective cohort study to assess the impact of changing from manually filled syringes to manufactured pre-filled syringes on the frequency of CRBSI in 718 TIVADs. Manually filled syringes were used in 269 patients and pre-filled syringes in 449. The CRBSI rate was 2.7% in the pre-filled syringe group and 6.3% in the manually filled syringe group (P = 0.016). Sex, tumour type and stage, access site and access body side were not independent risk factors for CRBSI.
