Abstract: SA-PO0410
Novel Patient-Centric Automated Peritoneal Dialysis (APD) Cycler Connector with Touch Contamination Prevention: In Vitro Comparison
Session Information
- Home Dialysis: Science and Cases, from Lab to Living Room
November 08, 2025 | Location: Exhibit Hall, Convention Center
Abstract Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Category: Dialysis
- 802 Dialysis: Home Dialysis and Peritoneal Dialysis
Authors
- Sloand, James A., The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, District of Columbia, United States
- Burton, Jeremy, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Munday, Chris, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Jain, Arsh, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- El Shamy, Osama, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, District of Columbia, United States
- Pendergraft, Rick, Simergent LLC, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States
- Lindo, Steve J., Simergent LLC, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States
Background
PD-related peritonitis is the leading cause of hospitalization & transfer to HD with touch contamination a significant contributor. Shrouded connectology reduces risk of touch contamination when mating the tubing set to PD solution bags, but a recessed fluid path in current APD connector systems is present only on 1-side of the tubing set/bag connection. A novel APD cycler tubing set (Simergent Archimedes) has shrouded tubing set connectors designed to mate to shrouded bag connectors. This study assessed the potential benefit of bilateral shrouded connectors compared to existing connectology from Baxter Claria & FMC Liberty cyclers.
Methods
Tubing set connectors from all 3 manufacturers were mated with respective 2.5% APD solution bag connectors (♂ or ♀) to simulate a therapy. Prior to mating, either the tubing set connector or bag connector was gently pressed onto an agar plate with an active S. aureus culture (see Fig 1). The connector not exposed to bacteria was similarly pressed onto a sterile agar plate. Controls were included where both sides were pressed on the clean agar. The exposed ends were bumped into each other 3x before the connection was completed, simulating imperfect fine motor skills. The first 50mL of the patient fill cycle was collected, centrifuged, and cultured on the same agar media.
Results
Presence of shrouded connectors on tubing sets (Simergent & FMC) was associated with no growth in the patient Fill (Fig 2); unshrouded Baxter connectors grew copious bacteria in the patient Fill. Separate tests of the inoculated connectors showed no growth in the Simergent patient fill path area, unlike FMC and Baxter (Fig 1).
Conclusion
The shrouded Simergent APD tubing mated to a shrouded Baxter solution bag reduced the risk of fluid path contamination. Such innovation may reduce peritonitis rates, morbidity & mortality.
Agar Growth at High Touch Contamination Areas
Tubing Set-PD Solution Connector Experiments
Funding
- Private Foundation Support