Cleaning Catheter Leg Bags?!

[jocelynlpn]

In my facility, long term care residents with catheters are highly advised against having leg drainage bags. There is one resident however, that is an exception. Him and his family are aware of the risks that come with leg bags. He is to have his leg bag on during the day, and at night nursing staff switch him to a regular drainage bag.

My manager recently posted a memo regarding the cleansing of leg bags. Cleaning out leg bags?! This is something I have never heard of, let alone learned in nursing school (graduated one year ago)

Here is what our manager expects us to do every evening while doing this resident's HS care (I just typed out what she wrote in the memo for you):

- Aseptic technique must be used with reconnecting, disconnecting and storing leg bags

- Disinfect connection with a 70% alcohol swab before disconnecting/reconnecting

- Drain the urine from the bag and rinse the tubing and bag with tap water until clear (REALLY? tap water? like in the sink that he washes his face?!)

- With a catheter tip syringe, clean the tubing and bag with soapy water and rinse with tap water until clear

-With a catheter tip syringe instill 1 part vinegar to 2 parts water

- The leg bag tubing must be fulled with the selected disinfectant to be properly disinfected.

- Allow to soak for 30 minutes

- Empty the collection system and allow the tubing and bag to air dry

- Cover the ends aseptically with gauze pad and store in a clean dry place

I want to hear what all you other nurses think about this. If you work in a facility where leg bags are used, do you clean them too?? Personally I think this is kind of ridiculous, but I need feedback please!!

[honeykrown, MSN, NP]

What you learn in school and in the real world are two different things and most time the hospitals carry teh cost for this. for pt's in the homes it based on what Medicaid and medicare would pay for in a given month. maybe your manager just learnt that the bags werent being washed or some people did wash it while some didnt. Different guesses.

[mjmcca]

I didn't mean that leg bags or washing them was ridiculous. I meant the fact that my manager is posting this memo now after having this resident in my facility for over a year.

Some one is probably not washing them so the policy is being clarified for all.

"The use of leg bags should be discouraged" - that's from the memo my manager wrote. I don't know why.

I bet that's a cost issue somehow, wonder what would happen if a few falls were attributable to the use of drainage bags.

Unfortunatly, we don't have the kind of leg bags that hook up to the night bags. When I was in school I was taught not to wash the bags, and to just get a new one.

Hmm I thought all the bags hooked through to drainage bags. Guess not. I worked in a hospital and we only got replacements when the bags were leaking , otherwise damaged or just too far gone to be used. I think wasteful practices like this are why so many institutions are closing their doors.