In the clinical setting, valves were cultured by pressing the connector diaphragm to an agar plate. Each valve was disinfected by scrubbing the diaphragm with a 70 percent isopropyl alcohol pledget for zero, five, 10, 15 or 30 seconds both culturing. In the laboratory setting, 150 unused sterile connectors were inoculated with bacteria, disinfected with a 70 percent isopropyl alcohol pledget for zero, five, 10, 15 or 30 seconds and then sampled by pressing the diaphragm to an agar plate.
Results showed two-thirds of 363 valves in the clinical setting that were not disinfected showed bacterial contamination. However, only one of 71 showed microbial growth after five-second disinfection with an alcohol pledget. In the laboratory, at the 103 and 105 inoculum, all connector valves yielded sterile cultures when scrubbed for five or more seconds.
Researchers concluded a five-second scrub of 70 percent isopropyl alcohol may be a best practice for disinfection of vascular catheter connector valve.
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