We continue to battle the beast of cursory swipes with alcohol swabs prior to connection with venous access devices. We'd like to write a minimum 3 second (?) spent cleansing the hub into our policy. It seems to me there was a publication that mentioned this time frame......can anyone point me in that direction?
Thanks!
Alma K.Â
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
ISMP on July 27 published an article on this very thing. The address is:
ismpmsa07-26-07acutecare.pdf
Has anyone heard of the study done at Sharp Memorial in San Diego about 70% alcohol friction for 15 seconds being published? Would love to see it.
Sarah, saw it mentioned on a IV Therapy Tip of the Times from OHSU!
Gwen Irwin
Kristin Walker RN, BSN, OCN Maui Memorial Medical Center IV dept.
Kristin,
Where was the article published? I would love to read it. Please let me know!
About the sterile caps, there area male/female caps availabe in a package that are available. We use those to prevent the nurse from using the end cap of the pre-filled syringes. I will try to determine the manufacturer and the item number for you. I don't think they are very expensive at all. I will try to provide the cost to us also.
Gwen Irwin
Austin, Texas
Our company says 10 -15 seconds using friction to swab - I believe the SAVE THAT LINE Campaign uses that number.
INS standards say to recap with a sterile end can - you should never recap with a cap from a syringe, etc could be contaminted, fall off, etc
You can buy male end caps as well as female/male end caps packaged together.
Ann Marie
Ann Marie Parry, RN, CRNI, VA-BC
[email protected]