PD Training

[Whamo]

I'm training on the Baxter Ultrabag system, but my nurse has added a step, and does some things differently from Baxter's.  For example, she has me clean the catheter for one minute before I connect.

[Joe]

Ok, I don't do that with mine but it certainly can't hurt.

[Sydnee]

Ed is on the liberty cycler but he has to do that too.

[Ricksters]

I am on the Baxter cycler and was taught to clean my catheter prior to connection and disconnections.

Ricki

[justme15]

hmm, i wasn't taught that.  how are ya'll cleaning your catheters?
I am finished with my training and will start my first full night on the cycler tonight.

[MaryD]

I wasn't taught to clean my catheter before connection either.  I do wash the catheter with the same anti-microbial wash which is used on my exit site each time I shower.  However, I was told to be extremely careful when connecting that the docking part of the procedure was very accurate - not to let any part of the connection to touch ANYTHING except it's opposite part.

Looking at my catheter's end parts, the critical end bit is always covered in betadine, and after touching the outside of the catheter there is always the hand sanitiser use before touching anything else.

I'm going to ask the PD nurses about it next visit.

[justme15]

yeah, that's what I was taught, MaryD.

[Joe]

I wasn't taught to clean my catheter before connection either.  I do wash the catheter with the same anti-microbial wash which is used on my exit site each time I shower.  However, I was told to be extremely careful when connecting that the docking part of the procedure was very accurate - not to let any part of the connection to touch ANYTHING except it's opposite part.

Looking at my catheter's end parts, the critical end bit is always covered in betadine, and after touching the outside of the catheter there is always the hand sanitiser use before touching anything else.

I'm going to ask the PD nurses about it next visit.

That is how I was taught too. I never touch anything after scrubbing up until I have my cath connected. And I'm anal about keeping everything around my cath clean.

[amanda100wilson]

I was not taught do do that and  the thought of doing so makes me feel extremely I comfortable if you mean the bit where the actual connection is made.  by touching that area I would think that you would actually increase the risk.  aseptic procedure is also known as non-touch technique meaning tha you do not physically touch with your fingers.  a high risk for doing so .

[Sydnee]

maybe we are all speaking about it differently.

When I said that Ed does it I'll explain. Ed before he opens his catheter he cleans the cap and end tube for a minute. He uses a bleach solution not what he uses to clean his skin. He also cleans before he discounts after filling.

This is done to make sure there is nothing present to infect the catheter. There is no touching once the cap is off.

Is this was you were talking about?

[justme15]

the end of my catheter stays with the cap on until I am ready to connect or disconnect. at that point I am either immediately connecting the end to my patient line, or putting a cap on it. I don't do anything else to the very end of the catheter.  My nurse did say that if I ever did touch the end to something that wasn't supposed to touch it, they might have me soak the tip in a disinfectant, or they would remove the entire transfer set.  and, the cap I put on the end has betadine in it, so it is always exposed to a disinfectant.

so i'm still a little confused about cleaning the cap? the caps I use are one time only...

[Whamo]

Sydnee explains it better than I did.  I don't do anything with an open catheter except close it, ASAP.

[amanda100wilson]

I wasn't taught to clean the catheter with the cap on,either the first time that I was taught in the early 1990's or when I went back onto dialysis again in 2003.  when I nursed, many years ago, we were taught to use universal procedures/aseptic technique when dealing with wounds.  the term that I prefer is 'non-touch' technique.  yes, you was hands etc. but the most important aspect is not touching things that are sterile or need to be kept sterile.  thus, I think that all this cleansing of everything is important, is not to touch.  in this case, the exposed, uncapped end of the catheter.  in nine years of PD, I never had one episode of peritonitis.

[jeffythecat]

I was taught to scrub it for 2 min.  I accidentally touched the tip of my catheter last night while trying to put the cap on.  Luckily nothing has happened so far.

[Joe]

Jeff, as long as you are following your typical aseptic techniques, you should be fine. Everything in the area of your catheter is really clean so not much that can cause a problem. Just don't want to make a habit of it.

[amanda100wilson]

now I wasn't taught to clean but was told that if you touch the connection part, that you should arrange to get the transfer set changed ASAP.  can't say that I always did though, although had I touched the bit right by the hole where thefluid came out, then I would have.