Using disinfectant caps on intravenous needleless connectors led to a 40 percent drop in central line–associated bloodstream infections, according to a recent study published in the American Journal of Infection Control.
For the study, a new intervention of using a luer-lock disinfectant cap with 70 percent alcohol was implemented in all IV needleless connectors for patients with peripheral and central lines in a trauma center.
The new disinfectant caps, along with the use of a standard central line bundle, led to a roughly 40 percent decrease in CLABSIs.
In addition to lowering infection rates, the use of the disinfectant caps was associated with an estimated savings of nearly $300,000 a year in the hospital studied.