Did I stuff up?

[graeme]

I  just completed an exchange and stuffed up... I was distracted at the end of my fill on CAPD and when I disconnected I had forgotten to take my empty bag off its stand so some fluid leaked out (not a big deal) but in my hast to stop it, I let go of the end of my transfer set to place the empty bag in the bucket on the floor while also placing the end of the tube in the bucket.

This all happened in a split second... I immediately picked up the end on the transfer set which was floating in midair and put on the mini cap.

When I recreated what happened the transfer set (with the cap on) hit the chair I was sitting on. MY CONCERN IS THAT I MIGHT HAVE CONTAMINATED THE END OF THE TRANSFER SET.

I am hoping that the betadine in the mini cap might fix the problem if it did touch the chair.

If I lived in the city I would simply go to the hospital and have the transfer set replaced. My problem is it means a flight off the island (I'm on Kangaroo Island) and some considerable cost.

Has anyone any advise?

[twirl]

      read this as to say     DID I SLUFF UP      thought we were starting a new post on goofing up as SLUFF would do

I do not understand any of what you said but please find out if you did anything to harm yourself.
I do hemo in clinic.
wow, you get to live on Kangaroo Island  ----  sounds beautiful
please be careful and sorry I have no helpful knowledge  ----

[MiSSis]

Hi Graeme,

I do PD also but use a cycler.  However I don't think that makes a difference in how you would treat a possible contamination.  I do think the betadine will help however I would call my PD nurse or the doctor if it's after regular hours and talk to them about what happened.  In my case, I know my doctor would prescribe a brief treatment of antibiotics to make sure of no problem.  I would also be watching my drain bags closely for cloudiness or excess fibrin.  In either case, you would then certainly need to contact your doc for assistance as you would definitely need treatment for possible peritonitis.

I know this reply is late for you so I'm really hoping all has worked out for the best.  Good luck!

[graeme]

Hi Graeme,

I do PD also but use a cycler.  However I don't think that makes a difference in how you would treat a possible contamination.  I do think the betadine will help however I would call my PD nurse or the doctor if it's after regular hours and talk to them about what happened.  In my case, I know my doctor would prescribe a brief treatment of antibiotics to make sure of no problem.  I would also be watching my drain bags closely for cloudiness or excess fibrin.  In either case, you would then certainly need to contact your doc for assistance as you would definitely need treatment for possible peritonitis.

I know this reply is late for you so I'm really hoping all has worked out for the best.  Good luck!

Thanks MiSSis,

I have done 2 exchanges since and the drain bags are clear with no sign of fibrin or cloudiness... Is there a rule for how long an infection might become evident after a contamination?

I know if I contacted my PD nurse that she would say I had to go to hospital... I am due to go there in 3 days time for my APD training.

[george40]

The instructions for our clinic is that if something like this happens (touching end of transfer set)

1 - Put on a mini cap for 10 minutes

2- Replace minicap and leave on for another 10 minutes

3- Replace the cap

Basically thats giving 3 treatments of betadine to the set. Then as the other poster said watch your drainage for cloudiness and fibrin.

[MiSSis]

Graeme,  My experience with peritonitis is that the symptoms appear quite quickly...fibrin, cloudiness, belly ache, etc.  I'd still probably recommend you run this by your PD nurse or doctor and explain how many hours it's been since your possible contamination.  If it's been 24 hrs or more they may elect to just do watchful waiting or a short course of antibiotics.  Unless you've having acute symptoms, I wouldn't see why they'd want to send you to the hospital. 

I've never done the mini cap replacing as george40 has suggested but it sure sounds like good advice to me.  Hope you are continuing to do well.