Infection Control issue? - Pre-set up of yaunker and tubing to wall suction "just in case"

Published

Specializes in Endo.

Hello everyone!

Work at an outpatient Endo center. We have tubing set up to wall suction "just in case" anything should happen to our patients. The set ups are in pre-op, procedure rooms, and recovery bays. The canisters, tubing, and yaunkers are always replaced with new ones if used. The "pre" set up has yaunkers still attached to the tubing, but still kept in the package (Photo attached for reference).

My question is - if that set up is not used, should it be thrown away? The yaunkers are technically open, put only at the tail end where it's connected to the tubing. Is this an infection control issue if we leave the set up for days and days? I feel like we need to throw these away, at least at the end of the day if not in use.

Does anyone have any answers on this? Anything from a reputable source that can I use as evidence based practice? Thanks!

IMG_4623.jpg
Up Vote Up Vote ×

Nothing from me about reputable evidence based practice. Studies regarding "stuff" like this are, could be, would be, interesting. But studies cost time and money and the results can be, will be, disputed, found untrue, by later studies.

The mouth isn't sterile, it is rather (very) dirty, germy, etc. so I can't imagine why a yaunker that is mostly contained inside an opened package would be of any concern.

The amount of waste, landfill, produced by hospitals is a bigger concern to me, to say nothing of the waste of money.

8
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in oncology, MS/tele/stepdown.

Setting aside whether you should or you shouldn't do this, can't you just have the set up as is and not open the yankauer? That seems like it would solve your problem.

8
Up Vote Up Vote ×
1 hour ago, Swellz said:

Setting aside whether you should or you shouldn't do this, can't you just have the set up as is and not open the yankauer? That seems like it would solve your problem.

Very observant intelligent question.

She opens the bottom of the yankauer package so the yankauer is ready, connected to, the plastic suction hose that goes to the suction canister. When a patient needs suctioning it can almost be an emergency. It's not the time to be fumbling with opening packages and connecting things. It's kind of standard operating procedure in recovery units to have suctioning set up this way.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

This is our set up as well - inpatient pediatrics.

If you've ever needed suction and not had it ready (and working) - you'd understand the rationale in this set up.

We do throw them away (as well as our opened and connected to the wall bag/mask) after each patient is discharged.... and replace with new equipment. Each patient gets their own suction and ambu bag. ?

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×
1 hour ago, humerusRN said:

This is our set up as well - inpatient pediatrics.

If you've ever needed suction and not had it ready (and working) - you'd understand the rationale in this set up.

We do throw them away (as well as our opened and connected to the wall bag/mask) after each patient is discharged.... and replace with new equipment. Each patient gets their own suction and ambu bag. ?

That makes sense in an inpatient setting...the whole room is cleaned, supplies replaced. In my case, and I assume the original posters case, these are what we call patient "bays" that are set up to receive same day surgery or GI patients who come and go home the same day. Ninety nine percent of the patients are fine, the yankauer/suction isn't touched. Not even all of the bays are used each day.

I can't see a reason to discard those yankauers at the end of each day.

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in UR/PA, Hematology/Oncology, Med Surg, Psych.

I don't have any EVP to offer, but I can say I wouldn't want to be the patient that a yaunker that had been opened all day or week was used for. You have multiple patients in and out of that space every day and a patient could be in the incubation stage of an illness. I know the budget wouldn't allow them to be exchanged between patients and the mouth isn't sterile, but I think the opened yaunker is yucky. I agree with the previous poster, that the package should be closed and nearby

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Endo.

Thank you everyone! The main reason why I ask is we are expecting State Surveyors to come anytime this month and that set-up is making me anxious. I am proposing keeping everything closed and in it's original package. I know some nurses and CRNAs will not like this. I was going to suggest to them that they can "pre-set" everything up - however was not sure if they would have to dispose of it after each case or just at end of day.

My biggest concern is what State surveyors might say. Have any of y'all had experience with State "dinging" you facility for something like this?

I appreciate all the feedback! First time joining this forum. It's pretty nice.

Thank you!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you for your thank you ?.

It's unfortunate that these "minor" issues are never resolved. I know we've had State Surveyors and this never came up either in management making sure we crossed our t's and dotted our i's, nor after the fact that we were "dinged" on anything like this. Of course that doesn't mean it wouldn't or couldn't happen!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Outpatient surgery here. We do the same thing, as far as pre set up. Quality did not like yankaeur attached to tubing, yankauer must be un opened! I recommend changing it, as your gut is telling you similar.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Endo.
6 hours ago, ar2d2 said:

Outpatient surgery here. We do the same thing, as far as pre set up. Quality did not like yankaeur attached to tubing, yankauer must be un opened! I recommend changing it, as your gut is telling you similar.

Thank you! Is there an issue leaving the long tubing opened as well? Or does that also need to be left in original packaging?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

No issue with tubing set up

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion