RE: CONGRATULATIONS!

[Lynn Hadaway]

Title: RE: CONGRATULATIONS!

I do not understand the concept of using a CLC2000 when you are giving a continuous infusion. I think that is a greater issue in your catheter patency than the use of the filter. All needleless connectors will remain an open pathway when they have a luer tip from a tubing or syringe attached. So your continuous tubing keeps that pathway open and prevents the positive displacement mechanism from working. This displacement mechanism will only work when a tubing or syringe is disconnected from the needleless device. So I can not see how the use of any mechanical valve device would improve your issue with clotted lines when their is a continuous infusion going.

Personally I believe that all IV tubing should have a filter. We know that organisms enter due to hub manipulation and that a filter would reduce the number that reaches the intraluminal space. You are correct that there have been no studies using a filter with any of the needleless devices. But there is no movement in the positive displacement mechanism until tubing disconnection occurs. So I do not think the air vent in a filter will make any difference. I would use the filter and eliminate the needleless device on continuous infusions.

Also, did this company rep provide this information in writing on a company form? If not, I would expect to see this before I accepted what the rep stated. I mean no offense to any sales rep, but we must see information such as this in writing from the company. Any thing the company rep states is considered product labeling according to the FDA definitions. So they should not be saying anything that is not approved by the company but I still want it in black and white.

Lynn

At 12:52 PM -0400 10/2/06, Corkhill, Melody wrote:

 

A question for anyone/everyone!!

 

 

I am researching positive pressure caps and in-line filters.  Our hospital uses filters on central lines because they are bacteriostatic- and our infection rate appropriately declined soon after initiation.  Later, we started using positive-pressure caps (CLC2000's) to assist with clotted catheters for those lines that are not being used for continuous fluids.  Here's my question-

 

According to the manufacturer's rep, the CLC2000 would not be beneficial if it is placed on a bacteriostatic filter because the filter has a small air-vent in it to filter out small amounts of air.  Therefore:  it would allow the positive pressure to push against the air instead of keeping pressure on the line itself.  There is no research or articles about it, neither is there anything mentioned in the manufacturer's information sheets about the relationship of positive pressure caps and add-on filters.  My feeling is that if there is a filter, a CLC2000 should not be used.  The CLC2000 should go directly on the end of the CVC to work appropriately.

 

Any thoughts?  You can email me directly if you would prefer.

 

Thank you ahead of time for your input.

 

Melody Corkhill, RN4, CRNI

Moses Cone Health System

Greensboro, NC

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Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RNC, CRNI
Lynn Hadaway Associates, Inc.
126 Main Street, PO Box 10
Milner, GA 30257
http://www.hadawayassociates.com
office 770-358-7861