Bacterial contamination of intravenous line side ports of different designs

Abstract

A prospective clinical study was undertaken to elucidate the question whether contamination of side ports of intravenous cannulae can be avoided by covering them with a disinfectable latex membrane. Two stopcocks equipped with membrane filters were mounted in the infusion line, one of them with a side port of the same configuration as that on a Venflon ® cannula and the other with a side port covered with a disinfectable latex membrane. The series comprised 42 patients who received parenteral nutrition for a total of 79 days. Both side ports were used for flushing the infusion line six times daily. Bacterial cultures were performed from filters and from 30 bottles of flushing fluid. Twenty-four percent of the filters on side ports of the Venflon type showed bacterial growth, compared with 10% of those on side ports covered with a disinfectable latex membrane. Bacterial growth was observed in the flushing fluid from one of the 30 bottles tested. The study demonstrated that side ports are a common route of bacterial contamination of infusion systems. The risk of contamination can be significantly reduced by equipping side ports with a distinfectable latex membrane.