Built to Protect: How Anti-Reflux Connectors Elevate Patient Safety

Needleless connectors (NCs) play a critical role in the safety and functionality of vascular access devices. This session focuses on the clinical advantages of anti-reflux NCs, highlighting how design innovations support catheter patency, minimize blood reflux, and reduce infection risk.

Reflux of blood into the catheter lumen, particularly during disconnection or pressure changes, contributes to intraluminal thrombus formation and occlusion. Quantitative assessments by Hull et al. (2017) and Gibson et al. (2021) demonstrate that even small reflux volumes can initiate clot formation, increasing the likelihood of occlusion and subsequent loss of device function. Anti-reflux NCs are engineered to minimize this risk by using passive internal valves that maintain a neutral or positive pressure environment, limiting backflow without requiring precise clamping techniques.

Design features are equally important in infection prevention. Jarvis (2013) and others emphasize the significance of a flat, disinfectable surface, one-piece internal mechanisms, and visible fluid paths to reduce microbial contamination. These characteristics allow for consistent disinfection and help prevent fluid entrapment, reducing the potential for biofilm formation and catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs).

A 2025 systematic review by Moureau, Gorski, Flynn, and Johnson synthesizes data from more than 30 studies, concluding that anti-reflux valves significantly lower occlusion rates compared to neutral and negative displacement connectors. Supporting real-world evidence from Buzas (2022) in home infusion care further confirms reduced complications, fewer occlusions, and improved therapy continuity when anti-reflux NCs are used.

Understanding how internal fluid dynamics, mechanical valve action, and connector design influence catheter outcomes is essential for clinicians making device selection decisions. Anti-reflux NCs—designed to preserve flow, prevent reflux, and support safe practice—represent a critical advancement in vascular access management and patient safety.