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Disinfecting port protectors

Protect IV access points with 3M™ Curos™ disinfecting port protectors 

Ensure peace of mind with our family of disinfecting port protectors designed to help you reduce the risk of infections by protecting every patient, every access point, every time.

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Curos caps for the Clinician hosting a line with Curos™ Tips with a patient with a PICC line capped by
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A full circle of disinfection and protection 

3M™ Curos™ Disinfecting Port Protectors are alcohol-containing caps that twist onto I.V. access points for disinfection and protection. Consistent use of Curos disinfecting caps on I.V. needleless connectors is associated with decreased central 
line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs).



 

Curos disinfecting port protectors are the only brand on the market that has offerings to help reduce risks across all I.V. access points, so you can protect every line, 
every time.



 

Add the entire family of Curos disinfecting port protectors into your standard protocols. One hospital saw their rate of CLABSI decreased by more than 40% after implementing Curos disinfecting caps for needleless connectors.¹

 

How Curos disinfecting port protectors work:

  • Reduces the risk across all intraluminal access points 
  • Contains 70% isopropyl alcohol (IPA) — the IPA bathes the surfaces of the port 
  • Disinfects in 1 minute and protects for up to 7 days if not removed 
  • Twists and stays on. Single use only. 

Advantages over scrubbing:

  • Associated with increases in compliance rates compared to scrub the hub
  • The bright color helps caregivers verify that a port is clean at a glance
  • Provides fast passive disinfection, saving nurses valuable time compared to most scrub the hub protocols

Complete your circle with the entire family of Curos disinfecting port protectors, designed to disinfect and protect.

 

Infographic of circle of disinfection and prevention, curos

See the evidence

Curos disinfecting port protectors achieved a 99.99% reduction in 6 microbes commonly associated with CLABSI*

The effectiveness of Curos disinfecting port protectors was tested in vitro against:*

  • Staphylococcus aureus
  • Staphylococcus epidermidis
  • Escherichia coli
  • Candida albicans
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa
  • Candida glabrata

Study conclusion: 


All test samples exceeded the minimum 4-log reduction after one minute.


3M data on file.

Illustration graph of average colony forming unit per valve, disinfecting ports
Curos disinfecting port protectors have proven highly effective in mitigating contamination risk, especially when the healthcare system has been under significant strain.3  

This retrospective review of data from the Premier Healthcare Database focused on 200,411 hospitalizations involving central venous catheters between January 2020 and September 2020 — a period characterized by significant strain due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

  • There were 73% fewer incidences of CLABSI in the disinfecting cap group 
  • Disinfecting Cap group exhibited a 0.5-day reduction in hospital stay
  • Disinfecting Cap group cost $6,703 less per hospital stay
See evidence summary
Illustration graph of Central line-associated bloodstream infection rate

Stay current with the latest industry guidelines and best practices

See what many of the world’s well-regarded organizations have to say about our Curos disinfecting port protectors — the only brand to offer effective passive disinfection for all I.V. access points.  

INS: Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice (2024)

According to the 2024 Infusion Nurses Society Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice, “Consider passive disinfection by applying a cap or covering containing a disinfectant agent. A systematic review has demonstrated high level of compliance with disinfecting cap use and reductions in central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) rates and related healthcare costs associated with avoided harm.” (Level II) ⁴  


In fact, “Recent research has shown that passive disinfection with 70% IPA caps was associated with reduced phlebitis and infection.” (Level II) ⁴ 

View our selected highlights from the 2024 Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice to learn more about new and expanded recommendations.
Icon of an award ribbon with a checkmark.

SHEA: Strategies to Prevent Central 
Line-associated Bloodstream Infections in Acute-care Hospitals

According to the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), “Use an antiseptic-containing hub/connector 
cap/port protector to cover connectors.”⁵ 

Icon of a curvy medical cross to represent medical solutions..

CDC: Guidelines for the Prevention of Intravascular 
Catheter-Related Infections (2011)

According to the Center for Disease and Control (CDC), antiseptic-barrier caps for needleless connectors have been studied (laboratory) and appear to be effective at preventing the entry of microorganisms 
(needs clinical trial).⁶

Icon of a shield with a checkmark.

Curos training videos

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References:

*For more information regarding organisms associated with central line–associated bloodstream infections, refer to: Sievert, D. M., Ricks, P., Edwards, J. R., Schneider, A., Patel, J., Srinivasan, A., Fridkin, S. (2013). Antimicrobial-Resistant Pathogens Associated with Healthcare-Associated Infections: Summary of Data Reported to the National Healthcare Safety Network at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2009–2010. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 34(01), 1-14. doi:10.1086/668770.
**Data reflects in vitro findings on Curos™ Disinfecting Port Protectors.

  1. Merrill KC, Sumner S, Linford L, Taylor C, and Macintosh C. Impact of universal disinfectant cap implementation on central line-associated bloodstream infections. American Journal of Infection Control 42 (2014) 1274–7. *See clinical evidence on pages 8–9
  2. 3M data on file. 
  3. Hou Y, Griffin LP, Ertmer K, Bernatchez SF, Kärpänen TJ, Palka-Santini M. Effectiveness of disinfecting caps for intravenous access points in reducing central line-associated bloodstream infections, clinical utilization, and cost of care during COVID-19. Clinicoecon Outcomes Res. 2023;15:477-486.
  4. Nickel B, Gorski L, Kleidon T, Kyes A, DeVries M, Keogh S, Meyer B, Sarver MJ, Crickman R, Ong J, Clare S, Hagle ME. Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice, 9th Edition. J Infus Nurs. 2024 Jan-Feb 01;47(1S Suppl 1):S1-S285. doi: 10.1097/NAN.0000000000000532. PMID: 38211609. © 2024 Infusion Nurses Society (INS). Excerpts used by explicit permission from INS. No endorsement is implied or given.
  5. Buetti, N., Marschall, J., Drees, M., Fakih, M. G., Hadaway, L., Maragakis, L. L., Monsees, E., Novosad, S., O'Grady, N. P., Rupp, M. E., Wolf, J., Yokoe, D., & Mermel, L. A. (2022). Strategies to prevent central line-associated bloodstream infections in acute-care hospitals: 2022 Update. Infection control and hospital epidemiology, 43(5), 553–569. https://doi.org/10.1017/ice.2022.87
  6. O'grady, Naomi, Mary Alexander, Lillian Burns, E Patchen Dellinger, Jeffery Garland, Stephen Heard, Pamela Lipsett, et al. 2011. “Guidelines for the Prevention of Intravascular Catheter-Related Infections, 2011.” https://www.cdc.gov/infectioncontrol/pdf/guidelines/bsi-guidelines-H.pdf.