Needleless medical connector. Lab technician holding up a disassembled needleless connector at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), USA. CDC researchers study the formation of biofilms in needless connector devices like this. They look into their impact on their use in the healthcare, and laboratory settings, where the maintenance of a sterile environment is of paramount importance. The presence of a biofilm can increase the risk of infections related to catheters placed into a patient's bloodstream. Devices such as this connector help to reduce that risk.