Dr. Maki also mentioned an invitro study where he intentionally contaminated positive displacement valves (no brand mentioned) and then tested downstream contaminates after swabbing and not swabbing. 100% of the non-swabbed valves passed contaminates downstream. I believe he said 60% of the properly swabbed valves passed contaminates. Pretty scary. Anyone see BD's demonstration using toothpaste and an ultraviolet light to show how difficult it is to really clean a mechanical valve? It's not looking good for these devices.
Darilyn
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
Well Peter you hit the question exactly. Drs Maki and Jarvis did not mention a specific brand. The word from valve manufacturers seems to be blaming weaknesses in the fluid path seal that allow liquid contaminates in. I heard practioners talking about poor staff education and/or compliance with swabbing as a possible cause.But truly we don't know that there is a problem. There was no data given as to type of valve or how it was used or how staff was educated. There was no data about a trailing a different valve to see if there was a difference. and no mention was made as to the reeducation of staff and a trail to follow that.So I feel we have many more questions to answer before we start tossing our valves in the can. But certainly it is interesting and worthy of note. I hope that everyone will begin taking a close look at the numbers in their facilities. Perhaps a few quick small trials to see if any trends emerge.TonyIn a message dated 1/15/2006 8:14:56 P.M. Central Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:Thank you Tony for keeping us all up to date with the conference!! A question though is burning in my mind. I don't recall, from the disscussion we had on the list this spring/summer, about a brand specific needless connector being responsible for for the increase in CRBSI. So could you please tell us which connector(s) are in question? What is the reason that belies a particular valve design, that makes it prone to causing CRBSI?Peter Marino RN BSN----- Original Message -----From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]Date: Sunday, January 15, 2006 12:06 amSubject: AVA conference, DAY 3"The topic was needleless connectors. They discussed the qualities of a needleless device that would contribute to maintaining a safe fluid pathway. The premise is that the association of increased catheter related infections with valves is likely a brand specific problem and not a wholesale problem of the device category as Drs Maki and Jarvisâs data might have led one to believe."
> Tony West, RN, CRNI
> Healix, Inc.
> Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] or [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> SMS: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Cell: 214-674-4848
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