I have a question about spiros/chemoclave system.
We have started using them in our facility, and the staff love these. There is one educator in anohter facility that has been quesitoning the use of these devices, quite upset about them.
We give our vesicants direct IV, and have been asked by our infection prevention team to swab the end of the spiros on the syringe prior to injecting, as the spiros is used to draw up the chemotherapy and not sterile. Our interminent lines come with a sterile cap attached, so they are not an issue.
We keep going back to the CDC guidelines that state the access port should be accessed only with sterile devices.
Does anyone else use these? What is your protocol around the swabbing of the end. The manufacturer states we should swab the ends.
Thanks
Closed drug transfer systems are very important when giving an drug that creates a hazard for the caregiver. You must also place a high priority on accessing all IV catheters with a sterile device - without question. Cleaning a syringe tip with an alcohol pad does not create a sterile device. I am not familiar with this brand, so am not sure what you need to change or do. But I would strongly recommend accessing with only a sterile device and an alcohol pad on the syringe tip will not allow you to meet this critical standard. 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