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, 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
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]