THE POTENTIAL FOR CATHETER MICROBIAL-CONTAMINATION FROM A NEEDLELESS CONNECTOR

Needleless connectors have been widely introduced into clinical practi ce to allow the connection of syringes and luers to peripheral and cen tral vascular catheters. The potential for microbial contamination of catheters via these devices is currently unclear. A recently introduce d connector, the 'Connecta Clave', was assessed by various in-vitro me thods. The 'Connecta Clave' is specifically devised to separate extern al components from the fluid pathway. The compression seals of 50 devi ces were contaminated with 1 x 10(4) cfu Staphylococcus epidermidis, d isinfected with isopropanol, and fluid passed through. Only one device allowed organisms to pass through, despite this challenge, representi ng a contamination rate of 2%. In comparison, when 50 connectors were challenged with 20 cfu of S. epidermidis, no organisms passed through the device during use. In the clinical situation, after manipulation, <16 cfu of skin organisms were found associated with the compression s eal of the devices. It is, therefore, likely that the contamination ra tes in clinical practice will be extremely low. Three methods of disin fecting the compression seals and associated rims were also evaluated. A combination of alcohol chlorhexidine spray, followed by a 70% isopr opanol swab, resulted in the most efficacious disinfection. The isopro panol swabs produced an adequate disinfection rate. The overall result s suggest that by use of specially designed connectors, not only are n eedlestick injuries reduced, but the likelihood of microbial contamina tion of catheters via the internal route may also be diminished.