This has been a topic many times and I did look back into the archives. JAVA recently published a study on scrub times that indicated 10 seconds or greater removed the majority of contaminants tested.
INS Standards did not seem to indicated a Scrub time nor a Dry time. I am not sure I know when the injection cap is really dry unless I touch it! (not my practice of course) Skin also is scrubbed and dried according to the CHG product IFU, but again dry time varies with the room humidity. I have to touch it to be sure !
Where can we find statements with evidence that indicate the proper amount of time to scrub and the proper amount of time to allow it to dry. Nurses ask these questions of us when we set such standards for them to follow!! What do you all tell staff when they ask for your evidence on these care practices.
Thanks for your assistance.
Scott Gilbert, RN, CRNI, VA-BC
No organization (e.g. INS or CDC) has included a scrubbing time in any published documents yet. All work has been done in in vitro or lab studies and not in clinical practice. So the impact of X vs Y vs Z scrub times on actual reduction of CRBSI is not known. The only actual clinical data that I have ever seen was published June 2012 from Dr. Mark Rupp. He cultured the connection surface of Interlink needleless connectors in use on ICU patients. They were cultured after a variety of scrub times along with no scrubbing. This was done on a scheduled internval and not with a clinical use of the NC. He reported that 5 seconds was sufficient for this specific brand of device, however cautioned that this design is very different from others. Regarding drying time, this all comes under total contact time. Alcohol flashes off very quickly. So I would say that a 15 second scrub time followed by immediate use is sufficient based on all in vitro work I have seen. Lynn
Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RN, BC, CRNI
Lynn Hadaway Associates, Inc.
126 Main Street, PO Box 10
Milner, GA 30257
Website http://www.hadawayassociates.com
Office Phone 770-358-7861
Dry time is important. If alcohol isn't allowed to dry, it can act as a solvent and bond parts together. I work for a medical device company and for our needle-free valve, our labeling states that dry time for 70% isopropyl alcohol is approximately 30 seconds (dry time is dependent on temperature, humidity and ventilation of the area).
Thanks
Yes, alcohol can act as a solvent on many types of plastic materials. However if dissolving the plastic is going to occur, it will happen during the scrubbing time as well as during the drying time. One should always follow manufacturer instructions for use. I do have serious doubts about expecting nurses to scrub for 15 seconds, then wait another 30 seconds for drying. I don't think that would happen in even a small percent of nurses. Lynn
Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RN, BC, CRNI
Lynn Hadaway Associates, Inc.
126 Main Street, PO Box 10
Milner, GA 30257
Website http://www.hadawayassociates.com
Office Phone 770-358-7861