Efficacy and Usability of a Novel Barrier Device for Preventing Injection Port Contamination: A Pilot Simulation Study

Anesth Analg. 2020 Mar;130(3):e45-e48. doi: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000004235.

Abstract

Contamination of intravenous (IV) ports and stopcocks has been associated with postoperative infections. We tested the usability and efficacy of a novel passive shielding device to prevent such contamination even in the absence of hand hygiene or port disinfection. In a desktop setting with deliberately contaminated hands, qualitative port contamination was detected after 5/60 (8.3%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.8-18.4) control port injections versus 0/60 (0%; 95% CI, 0-6.0) shielded injections (P = .025). In clinical simulations with a quantitative bioburden assay (measured in relative light units [RLUs]), median (interquartile range [IQR]) postsimulation bioburden was 46 (32-53) vs 27 (21-42) RLU for the control versus intervention groups (P = .036), yielding a median shift of -13 RLU (95% CI, -2 to -26) in favor of the shielding. Usability of the device was acceptable to practitioners.

MeSH terms

  • Catheter-Related Infections / microbiology
  • Catheter-Related Infections / prevention & control*
  • Catheterization, Central Venous / adverse effects
  • Catheterization, Central Venous / instrumentation*
  • Catheterization, Peripheral / adverse effects
  • Catheterization, Peripheral / instrumentation*
  • Catheters, Indwelling*
  • Central Venous Catheters*
  • Cross-Over Studies
  • Equipment Contamination*
  • Equipment Design
  • Hand / microbiology*
  • Humans
  • Materials Testing
  • Pilot Projects
  • Protective Factors
  • Risk Factors