We are revising our IV CVCC policies. As a practicing infusion nurse I had always placed a gauze pad with an antibiotic ointment such as Neosporin or Bacitracin at the insertion site after catheter removal to prevent air embolus, then covered with an occlusive dressing. It seems that our prior policy had deleted this information. The INS standards of practice state to use a "petrolium based ointment" at the site to prevent an air embolus. I interpret this to still mean a medicated ointment such as Neosporin. Other members of our committee feel that a Vasoline soaked gauze pad at the site should be adequate. What are other facilities doing?
Kelly Rolfsen RN CRNI
Franciscan St Francis Hospital
Indianapolis, IN 46237
The INS standards committe changed the langauge because prevention of infection is not the goal. Prevention of air embolism is the goal and this can be accomplished with all petroleum-based products including a plain Vaseline gauze. You do not need an antibiotic ointment. 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
The ointment cannot be water soluble
Vaseline is not water soluble to my knowledge
Kathy Kokotis RN BS MBA
Bard Access Systems