Positive-pressure needleless connectors did not increase rates of catheter hub colonization respecting the use of neutral-pressure needleless connectors in a prospective randomized trial.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to compare the colonization rates of central venous catheter (CVC) and arterial catheter (ArtC) hubs fitted with two types of needleless connectors (NCs). METHODS: We designed a prospective randomized study to compare rates of catheter hub colonization of CVC and ArtC hubs fitted with two types of needleless connectors neutral-pressure NCs (NP-NCs) and positive-pressure NCs (PP-NCs) in critically ill patients. All NCs were replaced every 7 days of use. RESULTS: We obtained 326 cultures from 146 catheters (81 CVC and 65 ArtC) in 70 patients. The total cumulative days of risk were 1250 catheter-days. Global swab cultures were positive in NP-NCs in 29/198 (14.6%) versus 17/128 (13.3%) in PP-NCs during catheter use. We did not observe any cases of CRBSI. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience, the use of PP-NCs did not result in significantly more frequent hub colonization with respect to NP-NCs.