IV Site Prep

[NeuroNP]

How many of you consistantly prep your IV sites with Betadine (or something equivalent) rather than just EtOH? I used to work with a nurse who said that she'd read somewhere that EtOH prep was almost useless so she always used Betadine unless allergic. Just wondering what the general thinking is.

[SmilingBluEyes]

chlorhexidine swabs used specifically for this purpose are what we use. not betadine, not for a long time.

[BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN]

Same as smilin...we use very little betadine on the preemies...they absorb some of it and it will burn their skin if left on.

[BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN]

Same as smilin...we use very little betadine on the preemies...they absorb some of it and it will burn their skin if left on.

[KRVRN, BSN, RN]

We use only alcohol for most venipunctures. If we are drawing a blood culture we use betadine and then alcohol. then we use water to take the rest of the betadine off after we draw the blood.

[VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN]

In most facilities in which we have clinicals, either 70% isopropyl alcohol or chlorhexidine is used for IV site preparation. Don't see much betadine or povidone iodine anymore. Chlorhexidine seems to increasingly be the product of choice, according to research. Even then, one must apply it correctly, using friction, moving in a circular motion from inside out, and allowing the preparation site the proper time to dry.

Here are some references:

http://jcm.asm.org/cgi/content/full/38/12/4665

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=retrieve&db=pubmed&list_uids=10610628&dopt=Abstract

[actioncat]

You do not need to apply Chlorhexedine with a circular motion.

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

Why is that?

Confession: I haven't started an IV in years...other than in my MIL in the small country hospital when there was no one who could do it......I'm still a good sticker.

[actioncat]

When the chlorhexidine people came around and did an inservice they specifically stated you just rub vigorously back and forth-- no need to apply in circular motion. Sorry, this does not answer the question of "why".

[Pattiecake]

Alcohol to actually clean the skin first. You'd be surprised at how dirty that alcohol pad looks after you clean the skin.

Betadine to disinfect the skin...allow to dry, then do the venipuncture.

I was always told to follow ABC alcohol, betadine, cover the site when done.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

Alcohol to actually clean the skin first. You'd be surprised at how dirty that alcohol pad looks after you clean the skin.

Betadine to disinfect the skin...allow to dry, then do the venipuncture.

I was always told to follow ABC alcohol, betadine, cover the site when done.

And I was taught Betadine first then alcohol. Weird.

steph

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

Chlorhexedine is what we use for blood culture draws.

[DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN]

our standard iv prep is wiping the site with betadine, allowing it to dry, then removing the betadine with an alcohol wipe. according to our unit director doc, betadine is only effective in killing infectants completely if allowed to dry completely before removing.

sorry but who has the time? we all use only alcohol preps. i don't touch the skin again prior to sticking as i see many nurses doing. i think in 28 years i've only seen 1 case of infection at the iv site. we must be doing something right?