Evaluation of the microbial tightness of closed system transfer devices by simulating airborne and touch contamination

The use of intravascular catheter devices is often associated with serious bloodstream infections due to microbial contaminations. To minimize risk of such infections NIOSH recommends the use of closed system transfer devices (CSTDs). To evaluate the microbial tightness of CSTDs we developed two methods which simulate the bioburden in ambient air of operating rooms and ICUs.