Reusing IV tubing - An infection control issue?

Specialties MICU

Published

Specializes in Trauma ICU.

Hello,

A fellow ICU nurse who was trained in another facility said that reusing IV tubing, let's say for a new bag of LR, is a no-go. If the tubing that is re-spiked with a new bag of whatever is less than 72 hours old, is this a problem? My fellow RN says it is an infection control issue and to never re-spike or reuse IV tubing even if the tube is not expired. Personally, I've been taught it is alright, provided you change it in a sterile fashion. I don't think we have a policy on this.

What say you and what says your facility??

Chris

ICU Navy Nurse in Germany

:typing

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Specializes in NICU.

We respike IVF (TPN, D10, NS...) tubing if it's running over 10cc/hr for 96 hours. Anything under that is q24. Our triple filters and medication extension tubing are also q96. This is part of a comprehensive infection control policy initiated last year, and our CLASBI rate has gone WAY down.

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Specializes in intensive care.

Tubing 72 hours, TPN,propofol, ativan, and antibiotic tubing 24 hours

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Tubing 72 hours, TPN,propofol, ativan, and antibiotic tubing 24 hours

Ditto to that ^^

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Specializes in Med-Surg Nursing.

I was taught that Propofol tuning should be changed every TWELVE hours due to the high lipid content which is a breeding gorund for bacteria

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I was taught that Propofol tuning should be changed every TWELVE hours due to the high lipid content which is a breeding gorund for bacteria

Whoops, you're right nurse-lou. Propofol = 12hrly line change. Didnt see that in the list there

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Specializes in intensive care.

Our hospital propofol is 24 hours. started out every 6 hours then went to 12 hours and now 24 hours. This all came from a study someone did. Our infections rates are unchanged with the 24 hour change.

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Specializes in cardiac/critical care/ informatics.
Hello,

A fellow ICU nurse who was trained in another facility said that reusing IV tubing, let's say for a new bag of LR, is a no-go. If the tubing that is re-spiked with a new bag of whatever is less than 72 hours old, is this a problem? My fellow RN says it is an infection control issue and to never re-spike or reuse IV tubing even if the tube is not expired. Personally, I've been taught it is alright, provided you change it in a sterile fashion. I don't think we have a policy on this.

What say you and what says your facility??

Chris

ICU Navy Nurse in Germany

:typing

If i am changing fluids I dont change the tubing unles it is close to the expiration date ours is 72 hours.

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Specializes in ICU-my whole life!!.

Hey Chris,

What team are you at LRMC-ICU? You should check with Maj Womble or LTC Garcia about reusing of tubbing. For the kind of pt's you guys get there, I would say just get a new one line. LRMC gets rid off so much stuff that using a new tubbing will be hardly noted. I think the ICU there has a very low to none infection control rate.

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I tend to hang new tubing when I come on shift (as things run out). I always hang brand new tubing when my propofol runs dry.

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Specializes in ICU, ER, Hemodialysis.

Within 96hrs. respike is ok.

diprivan q12 and tpn/lipids q24

I'm sure there are other exceptions.

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I was taught that Propofol tuning should be changed every TWELVE hours due to the high lipid content which is a breeding gorund for bacteria

Me too. I am interested in the study that shows that there is no difference in the infection rate between 12 and 24 hour changes, though. It is always good to have one less thing to do!:wink2:

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