BIOPATCH

[shelfox]

Has anyone tried the Biopatch and did they ever get an infection while wearing it around their catheter?  Did your insurance company pay for them?

[okarol]

Here are a couple related threads:
http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=264.msg1429#msg1429
http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=3198.msg48186#msg48186


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Help Protect Your Dialysis Patients

Patients at Special Risk
Both acute care and chronic dialysis patients are particularly vulnerable to catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs) and local infection due to a number of high-risk factors:

    * The large-bore design of dialysis catheters causes increased bleeding and greater opportunity for bacteria growth.
    * Immunosuppressed dialysis patients have a diminished natural capacity to fight infection.

Dialysis Catheter Infection Rate    
Chronic 21.2%
Acute Care 8%


    * Chronic Dialysis Catheters have an infection rate of 21.2%, or 1.6 per 1,000 catheter days.¹
          o Patients are still at high risk of infection several weeks after insertion.
          o Chronic dialysis catheters have the highest infection rate of all vascular access devices.¹
    * Acute Care Dialysis Catheters have an infection rate of 8%, or 4.8 per 1,000 catheter days.¹
          o Acute care dialysis catheters are designed for short-term use, usually with no built-in infection protection.¹

A Powerful Solution in the Fight Against Infection
BIOPATCH® Protective Disk is a non-toxic, non-irritating and easy-to-apply solution that consistently inhibits Staphylococcus aureus and S. epidermidis, the organisms most frequently associated with CRBSI and local infection.†

    * Depending on patient and dressing condition, the use of BIOPATCH® can decrease the frequency of dressing changes for chronic dialysis catheters from every dialysis session to only once a week.
    * BIOPATCH® will continue to protect against infection by releasing CHG for up to 7 days. (Be sure to follow your hospital's protocol with respect to dressing changes.)
    * BIOPATCH® is also indicated for use with Continuous Abdominal Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD), where patient compliance can be a serious issue.

†Not for use on premature infants or patients with known sensitivity to CHG. Safety and effectiveness in children under 16 years of age has not been established.
References
1.    Maki DG, Kluger MD, Crnich CJ. The Risk of Bloodstream Infection in Adults With Different Intravascular Devices: A Systematic Review of 200 Published Prospective Studies. Mayo Clin Proc. 2006;81(9):1159-1171.

[Rerun]

Yes.  When I was at DaVita with a catheter they used a Bio-patch.  I didn't like it because they insisted that it only needed changing and cleaned once a week.  Well, the catheter would itch and in the summer I would sweat which itched more.  I would beg them to change it twice a week.  Most of the nurses would but they would tell me how expensive they were.  Not in actual dollars, just guilt.  I would tell them how much I was charged for each session and that I'm sure it covered any extra bio-patches I used. 

20 years ago they didn't use them and changed and cleaned the area EVERY dialysis session.  They also use to send you home with extra supplies in case it needed changed in between times and they actually trained you on how to clean the site and change dressings.  Things have changed.  They prefer to keep you in the dark!

So to answer your questions.  I did not ever get an infection.  I guess my insurance paid for them because I sure didn't.