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Published on: February 9, 2011
The relative efficacy of multiple syringe tip disinfection techniques against virulent staphylococcus contamination
S Gibbons1, F Dexter1, R W Loftus2
1Department of Anesthesia, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
Background:
A recent study confirmed significant contamination of syringe tips following routine anaesthesia practice of at least 6 h in duration.
Aim:
We assessed the relative efficacy of clinically relevant syringe tip disinfection techniques following contamination with the hyper transmissible and more pathogenic Staphylococcus aureus sequence type 5 (S. aureus ST5) strain characteristic associated with increased strength of biofilm formation and greater desiccation tolerance.
Methods:
Syringe tips (N=40) contaminated with S. aureus ST5 were randomized to 70% isopropyl pads with 10 or 60 s of drying time, scrubbing alcohol disinfection caps with 10 or 60 s of dwell time, or to non-scrubbing alcohol disinfection caps with 60 s of dwell time. The primary outcome was residual 24-h colony forming units (cfu) >10.
Results:
Scrubbing disinfection caps were more effective than alcohol pads (25% (12/48) <10 cfu for scrubbing caps (10- or 60-s dwell times) vs 0% (0/48) <10 cfu for alcohol pads (10 or 60 s of drying time), Holm-Sidak adjusted P=0.0016). Scrubbing disinfection caps were more effective than non-scrubbing alcohol disinfection caps (25% (12/48) <10 cfu for scrubbing alcohol caps (10- or 60-s dwell times) vs 2% (1/48) for non-scrubbing alcohol caps (60-s dwell time), adjusted P=0.0087).
Conclusions:
Scrubbing alcohol caps are more effective than alcohol pads or non-scrubbing disinfecting caps for microbial reduction of syringe tips contaminated with the more pathogenic S. aureus ST5.
Insights
Scrubbing alcohol caps significantly reduce microbial contamination on syringe tips more effectively than alcohol pads or non-scrubbing caps. This finding is crucial for preventing infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus ST5.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Disease Prevention
- Anesthesiology
Background:
- Syringe tip contamination is a risk during anesthesia.
- Routine practices can lead to significant contamination.
- Hypervirulent strains like Staphylococcus aureus ST5 pose a heightened risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the efficacy of different syringe tip disinfection methods.
- To evaluate disinfection against Staphylococcus aureus ST5.
- To identify optimal practices for microbial reduction.
Main Methods:
- Syringe tips were contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus ST5.
- Disinfection methods included alcohol pads and scrubbing/non-scrubbing alcohol caps.
- Drying and dwell times varied (10-60 seconds).
- Residual colony-forming units (cfu) were quantified after 24 hours.
Main Results:
- Scrubbing alcohol caps achieved significantly lower residual cfu counts compared to alcohol pads.
- Scrubbing caps were also more effective than non-scrubbing caps.
- 25% of samples treated with scrubbing caps had <10 cfu, versus 0% for alcohol pads.
Conclusions:
- Scrubbing alcohol caps provide superior microbial reduction on contaminated syringe tips.
- This method is more effective than alcohol pads and non-scrubbing caps against Staphylococcus aureus ST5.
- Enhanced disinfection protocols are vital for patient safety.
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