Has anyone converted to the BD Q-Syte Luer Access Split Septum cap system and want to share the good and bad? Do you use on ALL vascular access devices?
The good - a split septum system with reports of lower rates of infection according to 2 posters presented at AVA last year.
The bad - definitely requires the positive pressure flushing technique to prevent blood reflux and clotting.
My experience comes from the patient's family side when my sister was in an Atlanta hospital that uses these. In fact, this hospital was one who did one of those AVA posters. They use this on all catheters. She did have one PIV that was clotted and had to be restarted. Don't have any experience from a management standpoint about conversion.
Suggest you look at work by or speak to Marcia Ryder RN PhD. Her biofilm analysis of the split septum design reflects some serious infection risk issues. She did a great presentation at this year's APIC, including lab photos of split septum before & after use. Definitely worth your time to check out.
Also try to get a hold of the ECRI Health Devices article on Needleless Connectors. Q-Syte was listed as one of the less desirable connectors. One of the reasons included that it would allow access with a needle.
We looked at the Q-Syte as part of the Nexiva system, and found that if the connector had any pressure on the side from just the right angle, the top would tilt off leaving a wide gap...leaking, and contamination. It looked like a patient with an administration set attached to their IV site could fairly easily cause this to happen.
Mari Cordes, BS RN
Nurse Educator IV Therapy
Fletcher Allen Health Care, Burlington VT
Educator, Bard Access Systems
Mari Cordes, BS RNIII VA-BC
Vascular Access Department
University of Vermont Medical Center
The good - a split septum system with reports of lower rates of infection according to 2 posters presented at AVA last year.
The bad - definitely requires the positive pressure flushing technique to prevent blood reflux and clotting.
My experience comes from the patient's family side when my sister was in an Atlanta hospital that uses these. In fact, this hospital was one who did one of those AVA posters. They use this on all catheters. She did have one PIV that was clotted and had to be restarted. Don't have any experience from a management standpoint about conversion.
Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RN, BC, CRNI
www.hadawayassociates.com
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
Suggest you look at work by or speak to Marcia Ryder RN PhD. Her biofilm analysis of the split septum design reflects some serious infection risk issues. She did a great presentation at this year's APIC, including lab photos of split septum before & after use. Definitely worth your time to check out.
Marilyn Hanchett RN
Also try to get a hold of the ECRI Health Devices article on Needleless Connectors. Q-Syte was listed as one of the less desirable connectors. One of the reasons included that it would allow access with a needle.
We looked at the Q-Syte as part of the Nexiva system, and found that if the connector had any pressure on the side from just the right angle, the top would tilt off leaving a wide gap...leaking, and contamination. It looked like a patient with an administration set attached to their IV site could fairly easily cause this to happen.
Mari Cordes, BS RN
Mari Cordes, BS RNIII VA-BC
Vascular Access Department
University of Vermont Medical Center