Forum topic

Greetings All,

After reading again, Dressing disruption is a major risk factor for catheter-related infections (Critical Care Med 2012 Vol 40, No. 6), [Timsit, JF et-al]  In the discussion section - middle - last paragraph on pp 1712:

"As the main outcome measure of the Dressing study (9) was not dressing disruption, one might question the accuracy of measuring dressing disruption. Furthermore, the report form did not allow distictions between dressing moistening and secondary disruption and dressing disruption due to other causes"

The above quote prompts me to ask few questions of you all:

What quatitative methods or rating scale do you all use in your instiutions to rate how disrupted a Central-line dressing is and at what numeric value on said scale, must your patients have before their dressing is deemed 'MUST be Changed Now'? What is your institution's procedure to deal with unscheduled dressing changes? Who in the care continuum takes ownership of that part of patient's care? 

Thanks for your input,

Cheers,

Tom Burns, RN BSN