ANTT- Aseptic Non Touch Technique Procedure

[paris2]

We are in process of implementing ANTT and would be grateful of any information on this. For e.g development of guidliness in your area, its implementation, and in particular the staff training issues and what problems were experienced during this process and how did one overcome this problem. Also the equipment used, as i have told that blue tray used is just one standard size which is hard to believe but again if someone can fill me in this please.

Thankyou.

[karenG]

I have absolutely no idea what this means??

many years ago back in the dim distant past when i did dressings we only had one dressing tray, 2 pairs of forceps.. gauze swabs and a gallipot. your right hand was the clean hand and your left was your dirty hand.. you never touched the patient with anything other than the forceps in your dirty hand...

so we never touched the patient!!

how are dressings done now??

Karen

off to do a search on this!

[augigi, CNS]

Rowley S. Theory to practice. Aseptic non-touch technique. Nursing Times. 2001. Feb 15-21;97(7):VI-VIII

Preston RM. Aseptic technique: evidence-based approach for patient safety. Br J Nurs. 2005 May 26-Jun 8;14(10):540-2, 544-6.

I attached a guideline which includes a training document and competency assessment. I also have a document with pics etc of the trays and procedures, it's too large to attach but you can find it here:http://www.yorkshireneonet.org.uk/hospitals/leeds_images/ANNT%20technique.pdf

I've never heard it called "ANTT" before, but it sounds like basic asepsis that we learned in nursing school - if you're not using it now, what are you doing?

Hope that helps.

[paris2]

Hi Augigi, Thanks: I've too never heard it called "ANTT" before and yes it sounds like basic asepsis that we learned in nursing school but i have done some search on this subject. According to the literatur there are problems with basic technique . It states that ANTT is a technique that maintains asepsis and is non-touch in nature (ie. being able to identify the 'key-parts' and not touching them either directly or indirectly).

Problems

No standard approach to training staff

No practice standard

Hand washing and other components of aseptic technique are often poor

Aseptic technique is not considered a priority by clinical leaders/managers

Compliance to procedure is generally poor

No evidence base existed for the subject of aseptic technique

How does ANTT work?

It works by focussing on the main problems known to exist in current practice:-

How ANTT works

Standard teaching.

Standard is enforced and policed by Ward sister/manager, patient involvement, peer (team) pressure

Improves hand washing etc by audit cycle based design, ie. improved and ongoing training and assessment.

Repositions aseptic technique as a high priority.

Enforced/mandatory

Generating an evidence base in the area.

[djblackburn]

Hi there. I am amazed that none of you guys have heard of Aseptic None Touch Technique (ANTT). Yes it probably is the new buzz term for what we are already doing, but to give it a new name and re cascade the practice of this technique surely can't do any harm in our never ending fight agains Hospital Aquired Infections. We have all been trained and assessed for competency in the hospital in which I work and it is now widely used. Evidence is in abundance on the net.

[XB9S, BSN, MSN, EdD, RN, APN]

I have only just looked a the link and it is not what we are currently doing.our nurses use disposible paper trays for our IV drugs. I notice that this is from a paediatric unit and having spent 3 years in paeds prior to my job now the practice of giving IVs was very different and much more like this ANTT.

We are very careful with our central lines and these are treated in this ANTT way but not so careful with our peripheral lines.

Yes we endevour to not touch "key" parts. As soemone who spends a great deal of time cannulating anything that can prolong the life of the cannula, reduce infection and local phlebitis is very welcome.