- Substances used to prevent sepsis, which is the presence of microorganisms or their toxic products with the bloodstream
- Prevent or inhibit the growth and development of microorganisms but do not necessarily kill them
- Considered safe to use on human skin and are used to clean the site prior to blood collection
- Examples:
- 70% isopropyl alcohol (isopropanol): most commonly used in routine blood collection
- Povidone-iodine: has higher degree of antisepsis; used for blood culture collection, blood gas collection
Antiseptics
- 70% ethyl alcohol
- 70% isopropyl alcohol (isopropanol)
- Benzalkonium chloride (e.g. Zephiran chloride)
- Chlorhexidine gluconate
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Povidone-iodine (0.1%-1% available iodine)
- Tincture of iodine
Antiseptics Used in Blood Collection
- Chemical substances or solutions that are used to remove or kill microorganisms on surfaces and instruments
- Typically corrosive and are not safe to use on human skin
- Examples:
- 1:100 dilution of sodium hypochlorite: for decontaminating nonporous surfaces after cleaning up blood or other body fluid spills in patient-care settings
- 1:10 dilution of sodium hypochlorite: for spills involving large amounts of blood or other body fluids or those that occur in the laboratory prior to cleanup
- At least 10 minutes of contact time is required for it to be effective
Disinfectants
What do the CDC Guideline for Hand Hygiene in Health Care Settings recommends to use for routine decontamination of hands as a substitute for hand washing provided that the hands are not visibly soiled?
Alcohol-based hand santizers
If hands are heavily contaminated with organic material and hand-washing facilities are not available, what is recommended for hands to be cleaned with?
Detergent-containing wipes followed by the use of an alcohol-based hand cleanser
Alcohol-based hand cleansers are available in— and come in various types of containers including personal-size bottles and wall-mounted dispensers.
rinses, gels, and foams
- It is a device that is applied or tied around a patient’s arm prior to venipuncture to restrict blood flow
- A properly application is tight enough to restrict venous flow out of the area but not so tight as to restrict arterial flow into the area. Restriction of venous flow distends or inflates the veins, making them larger and easier to find, and stretches the vein walls so they are thinner and easier to pierce with a needle.
Tourniquet
These are sterile, disposable, and designed for a single use only.
Needles
