Xylocaine for Port Access

[Sailingshoes]

We have a running debate at my facility regarding port access for our chemo pts. Some nurses prefer numbing with a xylocaine injection, some spray. The injection may increase the risk of infection due to an additional stick? Is the spray actually sterile? I know some places (especially hospitals) use nothing. I am interested in hearing what other Outpatient Cancer Centers do and based on what information.

[blondy2061h, MSN, RN]

We rarely use ports, but we use EMLA if we are going to access them. Most patients seem to prefer the EMLA cream, but almost all of them have had their port accessed at some point without it and say it's not too bad.