In Vitro Contamination of “Piggyback/Heparin Lock” Assemblies: Prevention of Contamination with a Closed, Positive Locking Device (Click‐Lock)

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Abstract
Direct contact and airborne transmission are established modes of microbial contamination of standard intravenous (iv) assemblies such as piggyback and heparin lock.1-17 In this study, 60% of the standard iv assemblies inoculated with Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) at the barrel of their exposed needle grew these organisms when cultured in a Soy Casein Digest Broth (SCDB). Also, 40 closed, positive locking iv assemblies (Click-Lock) were inoculated at possible contamination sites, and none of these assemblies grew S. aureus in a SCDB. These in vitro studies suggest that a closed, positive locking iv assembly such as the Click-Lock device may substantially reduce, and potentially prevent contamination of iv systems. (Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition 10: 431-434, 1986)