EFFECT OF A SPECIAL CONNECTOR ON MICROBIAL COLONIZATION OF THE PERIPHERAL IV CANNULA AND SUBSEQUENT RELATED INFECTION IN THE NICU

Abstract

Sepsis in NICU constitutes a major problem with reported rates ranging from 2% to 25% (Baker, 2000). The catheter hub may be a major portal of entery for microorganisms causing sepsis in the NICU (Salzman et al., 1992). There is a positive correlation between the number of IV system violations and the rate of venous catheter-related infection., suggesting that avoiding system violation would reduce the rate of venous catheter-related infection (Bijima, 1999). Interventions to reduce catheter hub contamination or colonization of its luminal surface of the catheter may reduce the incidence of catheter-related septicemia (Salzman et al., 1992).

In the present study we evaluated the effect of a special hub protective connector, attached to the short peripheral IV cannula, on bacterial colonization and subsequent cannula-related infection in NICU.

This study was conducted on 72 neonates that were born in the Obstetrics and Gynaecology hospital of Ain Shams University and were admitted to the NICU of the same hospital for reasons other than infection and having no clinical or laboratory evidence of infection during the period from 1- 1- 2000 to 1-7- 2000.

Forty four (61.1%) of the included neonates were males and 28 (38.9%) were females. The gestational age ranged between 30- 40 weeks with a mean of34.96 +/- 2.90 weeks. Twenty six (36%) of the subjects were PT, 18 (25%) were NT and 28 (39%) were