Successful Disinfection of Needleless Access Ports: A Matter of Time and Friction
Background: There is controversy as to whether the design of the needleless access port or the method used to clean it prior to access impacts successful disinfection. The authors studied the disinfection effectiveness for needleless access ports. Method: The ports of 4 models of needleless access ports were inoculated with bacteria. The ports were disinfected for 15 seconds with 70% alcohol alone or 3.15% chlorhexidine/70% alcohol (Chlorascrub, PDI, Orangeburg, NY). Saline flush solutions were collected and cultured. Results: Disinfection with either 70% alcohol alone or with 3.15% chlorhexidine/70% alcohol for 15 seconds was effective. Conclusions: All models of needleless access ports were effectively disinfected using these two methods.Abstract
Contributor Notes
Wendy Kaler, MT, MPH, CIC received her bachelor's degree in bacteriology from the University of California at Berkeley; she became a licensed clinical laboratory scientist and worked as a clinical microbiologist for 12 years. Ms. Kaler received her masters of public health from California State University at San Diego in epidemiology and has been working as an infection control practitioner since 1992, holding a certificate in infection control. She has served on local committees regarding community infection control and expert panels related to prevention of CRBSIs and disinfection of the hospital environment.
Raymond Chinn, MD, FACP received his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical School at Houston and completed a residency in internal medicine at the Los Angeles County-University of Southern California Medical Center and a fellowship in infectious diseases at Boston University. He is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in both specialties. Dr. Chinn serves on local, state, and national committees relating to public reporting, prevention of healthcare–associated infections and quality improvement. He was a member of the CDC Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee from 1998 to 2005, where he participated in the development of guidelines. In addition to his clinical infectious diseases practice, Dr. Chinn chairs the Infection Control/Prevention Committee at Sharp Memorial Hospital.