Site preparation and needle insertion: impact on patient safety.

摘要

For cannulation of grafts and fistulas, cleansing the cannulation sites according to the cleaning agent manufacturer's directions for use is the single most effective way to minimize infection. Patients on hemodialysis have more Staphylococcus aureus on their skin and in their noses than in the general population (Vandecasteele, Boelaert, & DeVriese, 2009). Because of these additional S. aureus, infection during cannulation can become an increased risk for patients. This is the reason to emphasize that patients wash the access right before sitting down for their hemodialysis treatment, and do not rely on a shower that may have been taken an hour or more before their treatment time. By having patients wash the access just before needle insertion, followed by a more targeted cleaning by staff, we can ensure the sites are as bacteria-free as possible.