“SwabCap” Reduces Catheter-Use Infections
Recalling the old saying that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, the “luer-lok,” between a medication syringe and catheter line, is the link often associated with catheter related blood stream infections. Without stringent disinfection, bacteria in that connector can grow and flow into the patient’s vein. Even with the best aseptic procedures, one in every twenty of the seven million catheters inserted annually in the US will produce an infection. Each episode will cost between $30k and $56k and add an additional six and a half days stay in an ICU. To address this problem, Excelsior Medical (Neptune, NJ) has tested its “SwabCap”-a twist-on luer connector that has a foam pad inside which releases an alcohol bath-showing a 79% decrease in infection rates at four hospitals. MORE