title: In vitro comparisons of two antimicrobial intravenous connectors.
abstract: Fifty percent of catheter-related bloodstream infections (CR-BSI) caused by organism migration through the fluid pathway (intraluminal) via a connector can be colonized within 24 hr. With a mean hospital stay of 4.8 days, intraluminal contamination is a primary source of CR-BSI. Purpose of this research was to determine which antimicrobial needleless connector produced the least bacterial colony-forming units (CFUs) in vitro and to compare these CFUs to the leading nonantimicrobial connector shown in previous research to have the lowest CFUs. Independent laboratory tested 2 antimicrobial (Baxter V-Link™, RyMed-7001 Nano(®)) and 1 nonantimicrobial (RyMed-5001) connector, 20 connectors each, 3 controls, each of 4 days, 4 organisms, under the same laboratory conditions. Baxter V-Link™ produced 2.0 to 8.8 times more bacteria than the RYM-5001( ®) and RYM-7001(®) connectors, regardless of bacteria type. The antimicrobial connector with the most and consistent bacteria (13, 675 CFUs) over 4 days was the V-Link™ and the connector with no consistent bacteria was the RyMed-7001(®). Nurses and researchers must include technological design, connector types, and methods of coating/ impregnating connectors as factors in evaluation.
authors: Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, USA. cchernecky@mail.mcg.edu
authors: Cynthia
authors: C
authors: Chernecky
authors: Jennifer
authors: J
authors: Waller
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002404:Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D018805:Sepsis / Q000517:prevention & control; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology