Antibiotic Tubing

[MEDICJOHN]

Being a new nurse, I am running into alot of nurses jumping down my throat for doing things this or that way. And it often leaves me stuck as to what is personal preference vs standard of care. This weeks question, it standard practice to use a different PB tubing for each antibiotic or is it ok to hang 3 various antibiotics using the same line?

[Tait, MSN, RN]

With costs skyrocketing it is highly recommended to backflush and use the same tubing for subsequent antibiotics. Check with pharmacy on compatibility. Our hospital was even beginning to add notes to meds in the computer like "compatible with Zosyn" on commonly combined abx therapies so nurses would know it was ok to run them in the same line.

[StrwbryblndRN]

We do alot of the same med combos. And some are compatible. No one in management is concerned (that I know of) if we choose to back flush or use multiple piggy back lines. I think I am going to inquire about it. Could make things easier in the long run. As long as everyone is one the same page.

[~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN]

On my unit we often have a Regine of different Abx (usually 2-3) we are giving patients. I always use different tubing. I just cap it when it's down and I am piggy backing another one and when I go to use the same Abx again I will use the same matching tube and cap off the other tubing.

[blondesareeasy]

Makes no sense and is illogical. If you follow that theory, you would have to use a separate and complete IV SET and TUBING for each antibiotic. If the antibiotic runs through the piggyback tubing, where does it go next? Into the PRIMARY tubing just like ALL of the other antibiotics. It's magical thinking to feel that 24 inches of tubing will keep the primary tubing from "crystalizing." It's all going through the SAME tubing after it leaves the piggyback tubing. AND, each time you disconnect one tubing, cap it, unscrew the next antibiotic tubing and attach it, you are breaking the line more times than if you just simply spiked the bag with the SAME tubing.

Some nurses will use a different tubing because an antibiotic is simply a different colour. No logic behind it.

Flush the stuff back into the bag and throw the bag away, even though that is pretty much senseless to allowing that the primary tubing is going to have a mixture of drugs in it anyway. ALL of the drugs have run through the same primary tubing.