Estimation of the Incidence of Colonization of Peripheral Venous Catheters After Skin Disinfection With 0.5% Sodium Hypochlorite, Preceded or Not by an Application of 70% Ethanol

Overview

The peripheral venous catheter is the most commonly used medical device in the hospital setting. Infectious complications are infrequent, bacterial or fungal, and local or systemic (catheter-related bacteremia). The latter prolong the length of hospitalization and increase the cost of care and mortality. For peripheral venous catheters, the risk of catheter-related bacteremia is lower (0.2-0.7 episodes per 1000 catheter days) than for other intravascular devices. However, the much higher number of peripheral venous catheters used explains a total number of infections close to that of other catheters. Colonization is usually the preliminary step to catheter infection. It is far more common than infection. Skin disinfection prior to catheter insertion is therefore essential to prevent this complication. Currently, Chlorhexidine or Povidone Iodine in alcoholic solution is recommended before insertion of a peripheral venous catheter. Although rare, allergies may contraindicate these antiseptics. The widespread use of antiseptics in recent years for hand disinfection, mouthwashes or body baths could increase the risk of the development of strains that have become less sensitive, or even resistant, to currently available antiseptics. Allergies and reduced sensitivity require the search for alternatives to currently available solutions. Sodium hypochlorite is used to disinfect mucous membranes or healthy skin before an invasive procedure in children under 30 months of age. Very few studies have evaluated its efficacy in adults for this same indication, despite the fact that it was the first antiseptic used to prevent infections. The aim of this study is to estimate the colonization rate of peripheral venous catheters after skin disinfection with 0.5% sodium hypochlorite (Dakin®) alone or preceded by an application of 70% ethanol.