What is the Curos® Port Protector?
Has the FDA reviewed and approved Curos efficacy data?
With the use of Curos, is it necessary to also swab luer-activated valves?
How long can Curos stay on a valve to maintain a clean site?
What is the significance of the green color?
How does Curos provide a means to measure protocol compliance as an aid in meeting current and new JCAHO and other organization standards?
How does the Curos stay on the needleless valve?
Why is there a small amount of product packaging?
Does Curos scrub the valve?
How long does the alcohol stay wet inside Curos when in use?
What is the Curos® Port Protector?
The Curos® Port Protector is a simple, innovative infection control product designed to reduce bloodstream infection. Curos easily and securely twists onto all currently available luer-activated I.V. access ports. Now, for the first time, healthcare providers can:
1. Consistently and reliably use passive disinfection for all luer-activated access ports and needleless connectors.
2. Easily confirm compliance with valve disinfection protocols
3. Always protect I.V. access ports from contamination between accesses.
I.V. access ports can now be ALWAYS CLEAN and PROTECTED. As the Curos disinfection cap is twisted and secured onto a valve, its internal foam pad is compressed, releasing 70% IPA for effective hub disinfection. The Curos green cap provides a consistent infection prevention barrier to touch and airborne contaminants for safe and effective catheter maintenance.
Has the FDA reviewed and approved Curos efficacy data?
Yes. The Curos Port Protector received 510K clearance from the FDA as a valve disinfection device in October 2008. In order to receive a 510k FDA clearance to market the infection control product, studies had to prove that Curos disinfection cap provides a high log reduction in microorganisms. The studies showed a minimum ~5 log reduction, which exceeded the 510(k) requirement. Additional studies are on-going and will be released as soon as they are available. Information is available in our product effectiveness summary (pdf).
The best data is your own. Try Curos disinfection caps in your hospital to compare the results against recent bloodstream infection and false positive blood culture rates. Curos works to improve valve disinfection of all luer-activated I.V. access ports, to potentially reduce catheter-related bloodstream infections and false positive blood cultures. The Curos green cap standardizes hub disinfection technique and improves infection control protocol compliance. We believe passive disinfection applied by the Curos Port Protector will be the future standard of care.
With the use of Curos, is it necessary to also swab luer-activated valves?
You should always follow hospital infection control protocols and procedures for effective valve disinfection and catheter maintenance. Testing has demonstrated that placing a Curos disinfection cap on an I.V. access port for a minimum of 5 minutes will provide superior decontamination results when compared to the typically performed alcohol swab procedure. With the proper use of the Curos green cap, it is not necessary to also swab a valve for hub disinfection. It is important to follow the recommended use of Curos to keep ports always clean and protected.
How long can Curos stay on a valve to maintain a clean site?
Once placed on an I.V. access port, the Curos disinfection cap will maintain the cleanliness of the valve for 7 days or until the line is changed, whichever is longer. If a Curos Port Protector is removed for valve access, it must be replaced with a new Curos disinfection cap.
What is the significance of the green color?
Extensive market research with infection control practitioners and IV nurses confirmed the need for the product to have a bright color so it can be easily seen from a distance and, more importantly, a color that would not be confused with other therapies (e.g. enteral lines). A number of colors were tested including white, blue, orange and green. The majority of the research respondents indicated that a green cap was ideal. A green cap would not be confused with other color-indicated therapies, would not blend in with valve colors or the bed linens, and the color would be easy to see from a distance.
How does Curos provide a means to measure protocol compliance as an aid in meeting current and new JCAHO and other organization standards?
Curos Port Protectors stay in place on I.V. access ports in between accesses to provide a simple and effective visual means for healthcare providers to easily confirm that clinicians are in compliance with valve disinfection and catheter maintenance protocol. The vibrant green cap helps to visualize Curos on I.V. access ports and needleless connectors from a distance and to verify ongoing valve disinfection at a glance.
How does the Curos stay on the needleless I.V. Port?
The Curos Port Protector, with its patent-pending thread design, works on all commercially available luer-activated I.V. access ports. The uniquely designed threads hold Curos disinfection caps securely in place so it will not fall or pull off. To remove, simply twist Curos counterclockwise.
Why is there a small amount of product packaging?
Ivera Medical designed Curos Port Protectors to be environmentally friendly. One of many final design criteria for the Curos green cap was to minimize packaging waste. Curos disinfection caps have only a small, easy to remove foil seal, which protects the internal 70% IPA-saturated foam pad, and keeps it from drying prior to use. The Curos design assists hospitals in reducing packaging waste.
Yes. While rotating the Curos disinfection cap to attach it onto a luer-activated I.V. access port, Curos scrubs the valve surface. Curos remains in place for constant passive disinfection of the valve. The hub is always clean and disinfected, without the variable disinfection that can arise from scrubbing techniques. There are three key components to effective valve disinfection: time, the chemical agent used, and friction. If time is short, applying friction to scrub access port surface is essential. Studies have shown a 15-30 second scrub can achieve reasonable levels of hub disinfection. The Curos disinfection cap relies on time, some friction, and 70% isopropyl alcohol to reach disinfection efficacy levels not previously achieved with traditional friction and alcohol swab practices.
How long does the alcohol stay wet inside Curos when in use?
Curos Port Protectors are technically designed to allow for the evaporation of alcohol within a period of time after placement onto an I.V. access port or needleless connector. Ivera Medical has received U.S. Patent # 7,780,794 for this unique housing structure that enables this evaporation capability and vented housing design. Ultimately, drying time is highly dependent on room temperature, humidity and the type of valve in use.
