The introduction of Mastisol® Liquid Adhesive – a gum mastic adhesive manufactured by Eloquest Healthcare – as part of standard jugular central line dressings has been shown to have a transformative effect on dressing durability, care costs, and possibly infection prevention. This is the outcome of a multicenter randomized controlled trial, referred to as the STICKY Trial, details of which were published in Critical Care Medicine.
The use of Mastisol® resulted in a significant drop in dressing failure rates, as they fell from an initial 50% to 28%. This led to a double-fold extension in wear time which increased from 23.8 hours to 58.5 hours. This massive reduction in the frequency of dressing changes led to a per-patient savings of AUD $11.02 in material and labor costs, a significant amount when considering the large number of patients being treated over time. Lead of the STICKY Trial, Nicole Marsh, RN, PhD, emphasized that securing dressing for central venous catheters (CVCs) in intensive care units is a top priority, and this trial underscores the efficacy of Mastisol® in enhancing dressing longevity and infection prevention.
Traditionally, dressing jugular CVCs has been a challenge due to continuous neck movement, limited space for dressing placement, and the pull exerted by multiple infusion lines. These factors can lead to frequent disruptions in the dressing, leading to potential central line–associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), which cause significant patient morbidity and mortality, and can add USD $48,000 to hospital stay costs. Incorporated into dressing borders, Mastisol® provides enhanced adhesion, maintaining consistent wound protection with fewer dressing changes, ultimately saving hospital funds.
The STICKY Trial’s results add to a growing body of evidence supporting the benefits of gum mastic adhesive in dressing security strategies. An initiative at the University of Virginia Health’s cardiac surgical Intensive Care Unit (ICU) saw a significant decline in CLABSI standardized infection ratio from 2.3 to 0.8 over three years, a strategy which included improved dressing adherence with a chlorhexidine-compatible gum mastic adhesive like Mastisol®.
With prospective annual savings of AUD $33,000 for Dr. Marsh’s study hospitals, potential cost savings for the U.S. healthcare sector, where over five million central venous catheters are placed annually, could be substantial. Mastisol® reduces chances of site contamination owing to fewer dressing changes as the trial showed halved colonization rates at the insertion site with the use of Mastisol®.
Mastisol® Liquid Adhesive is a latex-free, non-water soluble gum mastic adhesive that secures dressings, tapes, and devices, preventing unnecessary disruptions that can expose insertion sites to contaminants. Adding value to healthcare services, Eloquest Healthcare, Inc., provides simple, innovative solutions that enhance clinical outcomes, elevate quality of care, reduce total cost of care, and improve staff efficiency.