Forum topic

 There are no clinical research studies showing a decrease in CLASBSI rates based on the type of needleless connector in use. Many companies make claims of lower infection risk based on in vitro lab tests. There are also many opinion articles based on these invitro studies. There is one studies showing a decrease when both a neutral needleless connector and disinfection caps were both instituted at the same time. There are also 2 other studies showing CLABSI reduction when a disinfecton cap was in use. All studies on manual scrubbing have been done with invitro testing and there are no clinical studies about manual scrubbing to show a decrease in CLABSI rates. So the actual internal and external design of the NC and its contribution to CLABSI rates is unknown at this point. PICCs may be clotting because they are a smaller internal lumen diameter than other CVCs. But those CVCs may have some unseen material inside the lumens. 

With any flushing procedure, you must assess 2 mechanisms that cause blood to reflux into the catheter lumen:

1. syringe induced reflux

2. disconnection reflux

Also, you must use the correct sequence for flushing-clamping-disconnecting based on the type of needleless connector in use. 

You can download 3 articles about all of this information at my website - www.hadawayassociate.com/resources - Click here Resources

Lynn

There is a clinical study reported in AJIC. It is available online at www.ajicjournal.org. Comparison of central line-associated bloodstream infection rates when changing to a zero fluid displacement intravenous needleless connector in acute care settings.