BD launches closed IV catheter system for protecting healthcare workers

3 August 2009

BD Medical, a segment of BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company),
has announced the UK launch of the latest BD Nexiva closed intravenous (IV) catheter system designed to reduce healthcare workers’ risk of needlestick injuries and minimise exposure to blood.

The system includes the BD QSyte Luer access split septum to help reduce catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs). It also introduces a range of new features for ease of use and performance

“BD continues to grow its portfolio of innovative products designed to help healthcare organisations in the UK and around the world protect their healthcare workers and patients from infection,” said Suzanne Grant, Business Director, BD Medical, Medical Surgical Systems.

“The latest BD Nexiva closed IV catheter system reflects our ongoing efforts to improve clinical efficacy and patient comfort in infusion therapy it not only simplifies the IV therapy process, but also is designed to remove some typical sources of risk.”

Studies have shown that needlestick injuries are a significant risk to the physical and psychological health of nurses, and cause significant additional costs to healthcare provision [1].

Used for peripheral venous access, the all-in-one BD Nexiva system is designed to reduce insertion attempts and limit healthcare workers' exposure to blood with its innovative blood-containment system that helps minimise blood leakage from the catheter hub. This safety-engineered system is also designed to reduce needlestick injury by using passive needle-shielding technology that does not compromise the insertion techniques.

Studies in Europe have estimated that the associated costs of CRBSIs may be hundreds of millions of euros. An important feature incorporated into the BD Nexiva is the BD QSyte Luer access split septum, which offers a straight and unobstructed fluid path, high flow rates, clear visibility and cleanability.

A split septum needle access system has 64-70% lower CRBSI rates than mechanical valves [3]. By eliminating the complexities of mechanical valves, this split-septum device helps reduce the number of places where bacteria may thrive [4].

In fact, comparison studies found that patients are three times more likely, on average, to develop a CRBSI with mechanical valves versus a split-septum needleless access system [2].

References

1. Royal College of Nursing, Needlestick Injury in 2008.

2. E Tacconelli, G Smith, K Hieke, A Lafuma, P Bastide. Epidemiology, medical outcomes and costs of catheter-related bloodstream infections in intensive care units of four European countries: literature and registry-based estimates. Journal of Hospital Infection, Volume 72, Issue 2, Pages 97-103.

3. Rupp ME, Sholtz LA, Jourdan DR, et al. Outbreak of bloodstream infection temporally associated with the use of an intravascular needleless valve. CID. 2007;44:1408-1414.

Salgado CD, Chinnes L, Paczesny TH, Cantey JR. Increased rate of catheter-related bloodstream infection associated with use of a needleless mechanical valve device at a long-term acute care hospital. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2007;28: 684-688.

4. Karchmer TB, Wood C, Ohl CA, et al. Contamination of mechanical valve needleless devices may contribute to catheter-related bloodstream infections. SHEA 2006 Presentation Number: 221 Poster Board Number: 47.

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