Hi All,
Our hospital is seeing some poor outcomes from PIV insertions and as part of a complete overhaul of the policy and practice (and preparation for leaving PIVs in for a longer period of time) we have decided to make PIV insertion into a sterile procedure with sterile gloves (in case touching is required for difficult insertions). This is a tough sell as this will be required of RN and MD inserting PIVs and logistically will be very challenging. We are being asked for the evidence, and so far only have the CDC recommendation to wear sterile gloves if the site needs to be re-palpated. We are being asked if other hospitals around the states are also making progress in this same direction. I would appreciate any information you may have to share.
My question: (1) Has any other hospital changed their policy to place PIVs using a sterile gloves?
(2) If yes, do you have any other evidence to back it up?
Thank you to all who respond
sod
You are correct about the lack of studies on using sterile, or what should be known as aseptic technique for PIV insertion. There are no such studies avaialble yet, although this is getting a lot of discussion among experts. I recently gave a presentation at the annual APIC convention where I included this issue as an unanswered question. And your facility is not the only one having infection issues with PIVs and those who deny this problem may not actually be looking for it. I have had several lawsuits involving PIV infections. Go to my website - http://www.hadawayassociates.com/resources.html and scroll down that page to the section on Vascular Access Devices. Download the first 2 articles listed there. The first is an integrative literature review I published a few years ago on Short Peripheral Catheters and Infection. The second is the complete evidence table from all of the studies I looked at. I am not aware of anything else since this was published. Wish it were not so. I applaud your efforts to change this practice and wish you much success. 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
Thank you Lynn
SOD