title: Evacuated blood-collection tubes--the backflow hazard.
abstract: Five cases of nosocomial infection caused by Serratia marcescens were traced to backflow of blood from nonsterile evacuated blood-collection tubes. The mechanism of backflow was investigated theoretically and the conditions were determined under which backflow can occur. The theory was confirmed by experiments conducted on a simulated venous system and by measurements of the venous pressure in the brachial vein of a patient during application and removal of a tourniquet. Various possible solutions to the backflow hazard include strict adherence to correct venipuncture technique, sterilization of all blood-collection tubes, improvement of the vacuum in the tubes and incorporation of a check valve into the system.
mesh_terms: D001800:Blood Specimen Collection / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002404:Catheterization; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000209:etiology*; D004756:Enterobacteriaceae Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D009339:Needles; D012706:Serratia marcescens; D014690:Venous Pressure