title: Protocol for detection of biofilms on needleless connectors attached to central venous catheters.
abstract: Central venous catheter needleless connectors (NCs) have been shown to develop microbial contamination. A protocol was developed for the collection, processing, and examination of NCs to detect and measure biofilms on these devices. Sixty-three percent of 24 NCs collected from a bone marrow transplant center contained biofilms comprised primarily of coagulase-negative staphylococci.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Infections Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA. rld8@cdc.gov
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Donlan
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Murga
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Toscano
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Carr
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Novicki
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zuckerman
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Corey
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D018441:Biofilms; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods; D016972:Enterobacter cloacae / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D004867:Equipment Design; D001411:Geobacillus stearothermophilus / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013171:Spores, Bacterial; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure