Comparison of a Silver-Coated Needleless Connector and a Standard Needleless Connector for the Prevention of Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections

Abstract

objective. To assess the impact of a novel, silver-coated needleless connectors (NCs) on central-line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) rates compared with a mechanically identical NCs without a silver coating. conclusions. The use of silver-coated NCs decreased the CLABSI rate by 32%. CLABSI reduction efforts should include efforts to minimize contamination of NCs. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2015;36(3):294-301Central-line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) is a major cause of patient harm, and prevention of such infections has received much attention over the past decade. A national effort to prevent CLABSIs has been undertaken through optimization of central-line insertion practices. With this and other strategies, including economic disincentives through payment reform and public reporting of infection rates, the incidence of CLABSI has decreased in U.S. hospitals; however, in 2009,~41,000 CLABSIs were reported. 1 The persistence of CLABSIs and their high associated mortality underscore the need for novel prevention efforts.CLABSIs occur through two major routes. Infection can occur via an extraluminal pathway when microorganisms, often from the skin surface, gain access to the bloodstream via the external catheter surface. This contamination of the catheter surface can occur at the time of catheter insertion, particularly if proper insertion practices are not used. Intraluminal colonization of the catheter with seeding of the bloodstream typically occurs following contamination of the catheter hub, which is frequently manipulated in the process of injecting medications or fluids. Molecular typing of blood, skin, and catheter hub isolates suggests that most CLABSIs occurring early after line insertion originate from the skin (and are likely insertion-related events), whereas many CLABSIs occurring after the first 1-2 weeks of line placement are related to catheter hub contamination. [2][3][4][5][6][7][8]

Strategies to prevent central line-associated bloodstream infections in acute-care hospitals: 2022 Update

“…Use of silver-coated catheter connectors may be associated with reduced intraluminal contamination in ex vivo catheters and CLABSI. 221,222 Clinical evidence is limited regarding the risk reduction with their routine use or use of other antimicrobial catheter connectors. 2.…”

Novel Antibacterial Modification of Polycarbonate for Increment Prototyping in Medicine

“…The first most intuitive implication is the use of our material for central-line production. Up till now, different substances were tested for central-line coating; however, currently, the results are negative in the case of chlorhexidine [ 30 ], and in the case of silver-coated devices, a 32% likelihood of central-line-associated bloodstream infection was observed [ 31 ].…”