skin cleansing prior to procedures

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Hi Guys :balloons:

Have not been on line for ages and when I come back it's to pick your brains. Hope you don't mind. Wonder what you clean the preemies skin before procedures like UAC's, LP's and venflons. we recently had a chemical burn from chlorohexidine and we want to write up a guideline to prevent this from happening again. any help gratefully recieved. Your pal, Corks :p

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, educator.

Hey corks..

We use betadine and make sure it gets washed off ASAP :)

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Ditto that. I saw a place where they gave their term babies their first bath in chlorohexidine. I almost fell over!!!

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Specializes in Newborn ICU, Trauma ICU, Burn ICU, Peds.

We recently (about a year ago) started using chloraprep swabs.

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betadine. ONLY BETADINE!!! Nothing else.

OMG, chlorohexidine KILLS my hands. I can only imagine how it must feel to a preemie!!!! :crying2:

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we use betadine and only chlorhex if someones allergic to iodine

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Specializes in NICU, Infection Control.

We tried to use Chlorhexidene, but had a couple of very immature babies react very badly--their tummies looked burned--so went back to using Betadine and washing it off as soon as the proceedure was done. I believe there were some documented cases of hypothyroidism after exposure to betadine in infants. I am referring to UA/UV placement immediately after birth. I know the RNs who put in PICC lines use a betadine/alcohol prep.

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