title: The coated antiseptic tip (CAT) syringe.
abstract: Catheter-related blood stream infections (CR-BSI) account for 30% of healthcare acquired infection (HAI). Colonization of connector hubs and contaminated syringes are thought to increase the risk of CR-BSI. The Coated Antiseptic Tip (CAT) syringe was developed to decontaminate connector hubs, thereby reducing the risk of CR-BSI. Needleless valves (n = 20) and three-way connectors (n = 20) were contaminated with common critical care pathogens. At hourly intervals, CAT syringes were inserted into the connector hubs and normal saline was injected through the connector. This was repeated with control (non-coated) syringes. The internal surface of the connector hubs were swabbed at t = 0, t = 1 h and t = 4 h, inoculated onto blood agar plates and analysed by a blinded microbiologist. Growth was counted as the number of colony forming units. Baseline swabbing demonstrated 100% bacterial hub colonization in both connectors. The CAT syringe showed a significant reduction in CFU growth at 0 and 1 h compared with control syringes (p < 0.05). At 4 h, the CAT syringe completely eliminated bacterial growth in both of the connector hubs. The CAT syringe can effectively disinfect both three-way and needleless connectors.
authors.affiliation: The Critical Care Department, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital NHS Trust , Kings Lynn , UK.
authors.forename: Maryanne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mariyaselvam
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hodges
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: Alistair
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Steel
authors.forename: Parvez
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Moondi
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Young
mesh_terms: D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects*; D055499:Catheter-Related Infections / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000382:microbiology*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D004203:Disinfection / Q000295:instrumentation; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D006801:Humans; D013594:Syringes / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D004202:Disinfectants; D002710:Chlorhexidine
keywords: Catheter-related blood stream infection (CR-SBI); chlorhexidine; needleless connectors; syringes; three way connectors