{"entity":{"id":"needleless-connector-disinfecting-caps","kind":"technology","name":"Disinfecting caps for needleless connectors (Curos)","aka":["Curos","Disinfecting cap","Alcohol cap","Needleless connector cap"],"tldr":"A small cap soaked in alcohol that screws onto the end of a central line between uses, meant to keep the connector clean and lower the chance of a line infection.","summary":"NICE HealthTech guidance HTG510 (formerly MTG44, 9 May 2019) found that the Curos disinfecting cap \"shows promise for preventing infections when using needleless connectors, but there is currently insufficient evidence to support the case for routine adoption in the NHS\". NICE asked for research on whether Curos adds value to the standard care bundle, especially for people at high risk of infection and people managed in the community. The cap can stay on for up to 7 days but must be replaced each time the line is used.","status":"emerging","asOf":"2026-11-04","links":[{"label":"NICE HTG510: Curos for preventing infections when using needleless connectors","url":"https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/htg510"}],"tags":["devices-gaps-2026-11"],"related":[],"cancers":[],"sections":["supportive-care","devices"],"technologies":["picc-lines","implanted-ports","catheter-securement-devices","infusion-devices-vascular-access"],"targets":[],"drugs":[],"companies":[],"institutions":[],"pathways":[],"terms":["central-venous-access"],"trials":[],"people":[],"bottlenecks":[],"keyPapers":[],"journals":[],"dependsOn":[],"notes":[],"provenance":{"editedBy":"OnCo device gap fill (openFDA, accessdata.fda.gov, NICE, NHS Drug Tariff Part IX, FDA, maker and society pages)","editedOn":"2026-11-04"},"principle":"A cap containing isopropyl alcohol is screwed onto the needleless connector at the end of the line, bathing the connector surface while it is not in use.","strengths":["Simple to use between line accesses","Protects the connector surface while capped"],"limitations":["NICE found insufficient evidence for routine adoption","Adds a consumable at every access"],"since":2019},"route":"/technologies/needleless-connector-disinfecting-caps/","neighbours":{"section":[{"id":"devices","kind":"section","name":"Devices & Physical Therapies","route":"/fronts/devices/"},{"id":"supportive-care","kind":"section","name":"Supportive Care & Survivorship","route":"/fronts/supportive-care/"}],"technology":[{"id":"catheter-securement-devices","kind":"technology","name":"Catheter securement devices and dressings (SecurAcath, Tegaderm CHG)","route":"/technologies/catheter-securement-devices/"},{"id":"implanted-ports","kind":"technology","name":"Implanted ports for chemotherapy (port-a-cath, power-injectable, apheresis and intraperitoneal ports)","route":"/technologies/implanted-ports/"},{"id":"infusion-devices-vascular-access","kind":"technology","name":"Infusion pumps, ports, and ambulatory chemotherapy devices","route":"/technologies/infusion-devices-vascular-access/"},{"id":"picc-lines","kind":"technology","name":"Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC lines)","route":"/technologies/picc-lines/"}],"term":[{"id":"central-venous-access","kind":"term","name":"Central venous access (port, PICC line)","route":"/terms/central-venous-access/"}]}}