HI, I have a question. Our facility is looking at going to the Vlink needleless connector. I have talked with pharmacy about the silver content in the connectors, and they have concerns with the use of these with the platinum based chemos, but can't find any evidence on this.
Does anyone have any information on the use of these connectors with cisplatin?
Thanks
Sarah
I have never seen any evidence for or against cisplatin infusion through silver-coated needleless connectorss. have you contacted the manufacturer? Lynn
Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RN, NPD-BC, CRNI
Lynn Hadaway Associates, Inc.
PO Box 10
Milner, GA 30257
Website http://www.hadawayassociates.com
Office Phone 770-358-7861
I have mentioned my concerns with them, and have been waiting to hear back for a while now. I was hoping someone else out there had more information for me.
The pharmacy dept in our health system has looked into it a say silver and cisplatin don't mix
Ann Marie
Ann Marie Parry, RN, CRNI, VA-BC
[email protected]
Anyone using these connectors? What is the upcharge over a standard connector? Do you like them? Where do you see their place? Specific patients?
Judy Hopkins-Hyde, RN
Home Health Visiting Nurses of Southern Maine
There are no clinical studies yet that have established that they actually reduce CRBSI. But there are 2 very good in vitro studies showing serious reduction of organisms growth includind downstream biofilm. So there are no evidence-based answsers to your questions yet, especially about where they should be used. This technology may have the potential to reduce the risk of CRBSI from the mechanical valve needleless connectors, but it is sad to think that we need a new technology to overcome the deficits of another technology. Lynn
Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RN, NPD-BC, CRNI
Lynn Hadaway Associates, Inc.
PO Box 10
Milner, GA 30257
Website http://www.hadawayassociates.com
Office Phone 770-358-7861