Protocol for detection of biofilms on needleless connectors attached to central venous catheters

Central venous catheter needleless connectors (NCs) have been shown to deve lop microbial contamination. A protocol was developed for the collection, p rocessing, and examination of NCs to detect and measure biofilms on these d evices. Sixty-three percent of 24 NCs collected from a bone marrow transpla nt center contained biofilms comprised primarily of coagulase-negative stap hylococci.