No More Tangles
The
Beata Clasp® is billed as a “solution to tangled hospital tubing and tubing
misconnections,” but you can also use it at home for the same purposes. It is a
soft, latex-free foam device that separates lines. This makes it easy to
distinguish one from another, to keep them tangle free, and to follow each line
back to its source. It struck us as a great idea for people who have multiple
lines.
While one side of the product is clamped to a bedrail, IV pole, or other surface (it worked on our desk tops and the arm of our office chairs), the grooves on the other side separate your tubes. The product literature claims, “Medical tubing, lines, and drains fit securely into the product’s bank of circular grooves without occlusion or restriction.” The clasp comes in two sizes (with three or four grooves) and in three colors. The clasps are $5.50 each, plus shipping and handling. For more information or to order, contact the company at (800) 796-5840; info@beataclasp.com; or www.beataclasp.com.
—Oley
Staff
metzgel@mail.amc.edu
Capping CRBSIs
I had difficulty with the first injection cap I was using. The septum of the cap would frequently stick, making it difficult to disinfect; it was also necessary to change the cap frequently, due to flushing or infusion difficulty.
I
really like the injection cap I am now using. It is very reliable and easy to
use. Further, the InVision-Plus® Neutral® injection cap, manufactured by RyMed
Technologies, Inc., is designed to reduce the chances of catheter-related
bloodstream infections (CRBSIs), as well as intraluminal thrombotic catheter
occlusions
The surface of this injection cap is tightly sealed and it’s easy to clean it thoroughly with an alcohol swab. There are no crevices for bacteria to hide in. It is also compatible with chlorhexidine, so you have the option of using a Chlorascrub™ Swab for added protection.
The cap is available in a “creamer” type of packaging. You simply peel back the covering and the injection cap is ready to be attached to the end of the catheter without being touched.
With most injection caps, blood enters the catheter when you connect or disconnect syringes or tubing, which increases the chances that the catheter will become blocked. This cap advertises zero fluid displacement, which means that when you connect or disconnect, mechanical blood reflux does not enter the catheter. Because of zero fluid displacement, you do not need to use any specific clamping sequence with this cap; you can use the clamping sequence you are familiar with.
I
found this cap felt “tighter” when I connected to it. It has a double microbial
barrier system to protect the fluid pathway from contamination. During
activation, both barriers must be “pushed in” to access the fluid pathway. This
tight connection is easy to get used to, but I would suggest you take a spare
flush syringe and spare cap and practice connecting it a few times to get the
feel of it.
There is an online demonstration video showing cap changes with the special “creamer” packaging, the “tighter” feel when hooking up syringes, and other tips on RyMed’s Web site, at www.rymedtech.com/
This company also provides educational materials about bloodstream infections on its Web site.
—Tess M.
Hopkins
tmhop@yahoo.com
Note: The injection cap idea was submitted by an Oley consumer member who noted that the manufacturer helped write the more technical parts of the article. InVision-Plus® and Neutral® are registered trademarks of RyMed Technologies, Inc. Photos used by permission.