Assessment of the potential infection risk associated with the Q-Syte™ needleless connector

Abstract number: 1134_04_46

Adams D., Karpanen T., Worthington T., Lambert P., Elliott T.S.J.

Objectives:  

To determine the potential infection risk associated with the Q-Syte™ needleless connector. To determine if multiple activations of the Q-Syte™ needleless connector increases the potential risk of infection.

Method:  

Fifty Q-Syte™ needleless connectors were inoculated with a suspension containing 25% (v/v) blood and 6.5 x105 colony forming units of S. epidermidis. Suspensions were allowed to dry and each device was subsequently decontaminated with 70% isopropyl alcohol as per standard practice. Needleless connectors were then flushed with a pre-filled sterile syringe containing 10 ml of 0.9% (v/v) sterile saline. Each flush solution was collected and the number of colony forming units present determined by standard laboratory techniques. A further 50 needleless connectors were activated up to a total of 70 times to simulate routine clinical practice. After a defined number of activations each needleless connector was inoculated with S. epidermidis, decontaminated and flushed with 0.9% (v/v) sterile saline as described previously. The number of colony forming units present in each flush solution was determined.

Results:  

None of the saline solutions flushed through Q-SyteTM needleless connectors which had been activated up to a total of 70 times, contained detectable numbers of microorganisms.

Conclusion:  

If appropriately disinfected, the Q-Syte™ needleless connector is a needle safe barrier to microbial contamination of flush solutions even following multiple activations. These devices may have the potential for reducing the incidence of catheter contamination, colonisation and sepsis acquired via the intraluminal route.