Dressing CVC sites for infection-fighting success
Harwood, L., Wilson, B., et al. (2008).
Predictors of hemodialysis central venous catheter exit-site infections. The Canadian Association of Nephrology Nurses and Technologists Journal, 18(2), 26-35.
Modern Medicine: Publish date: Nov 1, 2008
Treating hemodialysis catheter-related bacteremia can cost as much as $45,000. More importantly, these infected sites are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality for hemodialysis patients. But researchers have studied these infected, tunneled hemodialysis CVC exit sites in hope of cleaning them up.
The study compared dressing types, cleansing agents, and number of dressing changes. Typically, dressings are either a dry gauze-type or a semi-permeable transparent dressing. Cleansers included a 2% chlorhexidine gluconate agent, which was tested against 10% povidone-iodine or 70% alcohol. Results indicated that the most infection-free sites were cleansed with 2% chlorhexidine gluconate and dressed with dry gauze.
As for the frequency of dressing changes, more is not better. Sites with negative exit-site cultures were more likely to have dressings changed weekly instead of daily or during each hemodialysis treatment.
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