Common Hospital Device Could Lead to Patient Infections

http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/530464/
Newswise — Patients might be at greater risk for developing bloodstream infections due to a common device used in hospitals around the country, according to a research team at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) in Omaha, Nebraska.
The device is a needle-less intravascular catheter connector valve, commonly used for hospital patients with a vascular catheter in place. Vascular catheters are widely used in many types of patients for the infusion of medications, blood products or fluids, and the connector valve is the small piece of equipment that connects the catheter to the IV tubing.
The first generation of needle-less devices was introduced into medical care over a decade ago in order to prevent needlestick injuries and bloodborne pathogen exposure in health care workers. More recently, mechanical valves have been incorporated into the devices in an attempt to minimize the risk of catheter occlusion. Unfortunately, some of these devices may be putting patients in harm’s way, said Mark Rupp, M.D.
Dr. Rupp said the valves have a shallow depression and rim. “It’s possible that microbes and debris could collect in this depression, making them relatively resistant to cleansing or disinfectants,” he said. “They also are opaque, making it more difficult for health care workers to observe if blood or infusion products are collecting within the valve.”
Once the higher rate of bloodstream infections was determined, Dr. Rupp said the hospital immediately stopped using the mechanical needle-less connector valves and went back to using the older version.