This practice came about when we first began to insert PICCs
because the puncture in the vein wall was much larger than the
catheter that was placed. So there was always some bleeding within the
first day. Blood on any dressing is an excellent growth medium and
thus the need to change it quickly. If there is no blood on the
dressing there should be no need to change it, but most I have seen do
bleed some within that first day. Lynn
At 8:45 PM -0500 7/20/06, Gwen Irwin wrote:
I have had a question posed to me about why a 24 hour dressing change after a PICC insertion is required. The CDC's Guidelines to the Prevention of Intravascular Catheter Related Infections address gauze dressing used on CVCs (includes PICCs, right?) need to be changed every 48 hours.
So, why do we require a 24 hour dressing change? Every PICC course that I have attended states this, but why do we do this? I had to laugh when asked this question, because I almost said "That is what we have always done." This kind of response is what I battle often for many other CVC practices (sound familiar?). Is there evidence that the 24 hour dressing change for PICCs is necessary? Is there any evidence that a 48 hour dressing change after insertion would change the patient's outcomes?
I value your perspectives and would enjoy hearing what you think.
Gwen Irwin
Austin, Texas
--
Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RNC, CRNI
Lynn Hadaway Associates, Inc.
126 Main Street, PO Box 10
Milner, GA 30257
http://www.hadawayassociates.com
office 770-358-7861
Lynn Hadaway Associates, Inc.
126 Main Street, PO Box 10
Milner, GA 30257
http://www.hadawayassociates.com
office 770-358-7861
