Catheter Connections study reveals dirty truth of IV poles - HB

Solomon said that during the study the company found at least two components on every IVstand that were bacteria contaminated. The poles, hooks, and bases had the highestcontamination rates at 80% each. The IV lines showed a 75% contamination rate and the bagswere contaminated 50% of the time.Recognizing what he calls the “glaring need” for hospitals to protect the male luer connector atthe end of the IV tubing, Catheter Connections developed the DualCap system to give nurses away to protect the male luer. In designing the system, Solomon said the company strived to keepit “super simple” to make it easy for nurses to use and reduce contamination related to the IVcatheter.“We know that DualCap helps prevent contamination, we’ve had reports from hospitals that arebeginning to use DualCap that it does help,” Solomon said. “We really want to make it easy forthem so that all they have to do is put one on the male luer and one on the female side of the IVline and their done. Boom.”Charity Williams, chief business officer and in house counsel at Catheter Connections, toldMDD that the idea for the DualCap system actually came from two infusion nurses. “They hadan idea that you needed to be able to address both sides of the IV tubing connection,” Williamssaid.