Forum topic

 First let me say that I am a consultant to several of these manufacturers of disinfection caps and I teach proper practice with them frequently. What you have been told is blatantly WRONG!! You can be confident that the disinfection cap has done its job if it has been on for the specific length of time required for effectiveness. Each brand may have some differences in the number of minutes required for this effectiveness. The cap has also protected the needlleless connector between uses so additional contamination does not happen. So that first syringe to flush with saline can be attached without further scrubbing. This step requires aspriation for a positive blood return as part of the catheter patency assessment. This could allow blood tinged fluid on the connection surface when the syringe is disconnected. So it must be cleaned again. Then you attach an IV set to allow for short 30-60 minute infusions, usually. This connection lies in the patient's bed in close contact with environmental debris, skin oils, lint, etc. And again disconnection could produce residue of blood or drug on the connection surface, this requiring a scrub again before the second saline syringe. And the same before the heparin syringe is attached. So these protection/disinfection caps are beneficial with several studies now showing a reduction in BSI rates, however they can not replace all manual cleaning of the needleless connector.These subsequent cleanings should be performed with a new alcohol pad for each one.  Lynn