Using one secondary set for all IVPB's

[Robinr1958]

Hello All,

The hospital I work at presently uses separate tubing for each IVPB. I have worked at other facilities that use one for all and feel that this practice probably is not only more cost effective but also decreases the infection risk as the system is broken less frequently. I am looking for some documentation (studies, other information) that supports this as my facility is fairly slow to change without documention that strongly supports the benefits. Please share any documentation you may have to help us out.

Thanks,

Robin

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Always have used seperate tubing for IVPB , especially to prevent drug-drug interaction in tubing.

[Dixielee, BSN, RN]

I agree. I think the risk of drug incompatibillity is too great. I have kept the same tubing with the bag, end capped of course, and used for all doses for 24-48 hours, whatever hospital policy might be. If you use the little short piggy back tubing and connect to maintenence fluid, I bet the cost is minimal.

[zacarias, ASN, RN]

I am looking for some documentation (studies, other information) that supports this as my facility is fairly slow to change without documention that strongly supports the benefits.

Thanks,

Robin

I'd love to see documentation on this. The truth is that if you know your drug compatibilities, using the same tubing is not a risk at all and will be more efficient and possibly lead to better infection control.

[CardioTrans, BSN, RN]

I too am siding with the "what abouts" drug incompatibility.

[barefootlady, ADN, RN]

There should be a drug compatability list in the med room to check which IVPB's can be hung using same tubing. We use same tubing for compatable drug and hang second set, for noncompatable use. Soetimes we use the secondary tubing, sometimes the longer set. Just according to supplies. If there is still a doubt, ask pharmacy.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Aren't most antibiodics compatable to use the same tubing???? Except the aminoglycocides which has low compatability with other antibiodics, I've always used one tubing for antibiodics. But don't have any documentation.

[rollingstone]

I use the same IVPB tubing but always backflush to clear the line when a different drug is hung. I've done this for years without a problem.

[Anniekins]

If I see that i'm hanging up a piggy back that was already hung there.... (removing the empty one and replacing w/ the new one), I don't change the tubing if its been hung with in 96 hrs (the policy for changing tubing in general).

If I am hanging up something other than what is hanging there, I get new secondary tubing, however, have seen people backflush and use the same secondary tubing.

Research on this would be very interesting. :)

[barefootlady, ADN, RN]

Maybe I read the question wrong, but I thought the poster was questioning if IVPB tubing can be used for more than 1 antibiotic. There are some antibiotics that require special tubing or filters. A very few are not compatible with others, so that is why I stated to double check with pharmacy if you have a doubt or there is not a chart available. Our tubing is good for 72 hours. Backflushing is common.

[Burnt Out, ASN, RN]

We use the same IVPB tubing for antibiotics as long as they are compatible. If we have something that requires a filter, we use seperate tubing for it.

[leslie :-D]

in all med books, there's a blurb about y-site compatabilties.

i always double check those but have backflushed on many an occasion.