Any thoughts from the group on cleaning IV tubing and CVC dressings with CHG wipes? This was a recommendation when we implemented CHG wipes a few years ago but wondering if there has been any new evidence for this?
https://www.ahrq.gov/sites/default/files/publications/files/universalicu.pdf see page 43 and 47 from the AHRQ/CDC. CHG is safe to use on dressings and tubings (not just CVCs). When LC17 cleans the dressing they do a very quick wipe on top of the CVC dressing (in addition to the regular skin which needs to get as close to the CVC as possible). This was also a recommendation when we were trained on CHG and the clinician training us Marcia Bauman RN, MSN, MBA, Clinical Science Liaison for SAGE.
An article just about dirty tubing and lifting off the ground
No, never, not any day would I do that. The spike end and the male luer end of the administration set is sterile when removed from the package, along with the internal fluid pathway. It must remain sterile in order to continue to use it. If is becomes contaminated in any way, it must be replaced. There is not now and never has beeen any evidence to clean the ends of an administration set. CDC, SHEA. and INS all state that a VAD must be accessed with sterile devices only. No matter how you clean it or what you clean it with, you will never be able to make it sterile again.
Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RN, NPD-BC, CRNI
Lynn Hadaway Associates, Inc.
PO Box 10
Milner, GA 30257
Website http://www.hadawayassociates.com
Office Phone 770-358-7861
I just read that abstract from Pubmed. I would have to ask why it is allowed to drag on the floor? Also where is the evidence that a luer-locked connection on the floor causes intraluminal organisms? Are these sets being disconnected frequently for any reason? If so, I just added an evidence-based report for sale on our website about this very issue. Go to http://hadawayassociates.com/evidence-based-practice-reports.html to learn more.
This makes me wonder if you are asking about regularly wiping down the entire administration set from drip chamber to VAD hub or if are asking about cleaning the ends as I originally thought.
Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RN, NPD-BC, CRNI
Lynn Hadaway Associates, Inc.
PO Box 10
Milner, GA 30257
Website http://www.hadawayassociates.com
Office Phone 770-358-7861
Just sent a clarification--did you see the publication from the below too?
https://www.ahrq.gov/sites/default/files/publications/files/universalicu.pdf see page 43 and 47 from the AHRQ/CDC
I work in a children's hosptial so the tubing sometimes drags on the floor (we do everything in our power to have this not happen but it just does sometimes) and with our BMT kids (or chronic heart kids waiting for a heart, they are mobile but often hooked up to a lot of medications) which tends to make the tubing even longer. We actually had a kid jumprope with IV tubing once in the playroom! LOL--he was having fun but he then did disconnect himself all the way to the hub and ran down the hallway with a trail of blood. Also, kids/teenagers play with their tubing a lot (some toddlers even chew). Any infusiion that is continous, the tubing is good for 96 hours.
Mary Lynn Rae, RN, MSN, CPHON
Clinical Nurse Educator
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
To clarify. The CHG wipes would not be cleaning anything to do with the sterile ends. It is for daily maintenance for IV tubing that is continuously infusing juat to clean the outside.of the tubing.
Mary Lynn Rae, RN, MSN, CPHON
Clinical Nurse Educator
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
Never seen any studies about this, nothing to even suggest this is a needed action. I also recently went through all studies on administration sets. So you would be creating a new practice. Also nothing in the infection prevention literature suggest this either. All connections must be firmly luer locked together and not disconnected between times to change it.
Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RN, NPD-BC, CRNI
Lynn Hadaway Associates, Inc.
PO Box 10
Milner, GA 30257
Website http://www.hadawayassociates.com
Office Phone 770-358-7861