Venepuncture Module 3 Flashcards
To prevent infections and other adverse events, when undertaking venepuncture, health workers should do what?
Follow guidelines on patient identification, use hand hygiene, use gloves, skin disinfection, use of appropriate blood sampling devices and safe transportation of laboratory samples.
Risk of infection can be minimised by adherence to standard precautions. What does this involve?
Using the 5 moments of hand hygiene and using aseptic non-touch technique (ANTT)
Why does venepuncture present as a risk for infections?
- It penetrates and bybasses the protective barrier of the patients skin
- Inadequate skin antisepsis or hand hygiene may permit microorganisms to enter the venepuncture site
*Immunosuppressed or compromised patients are especially vulnerable to infection
Infection is indicated by what?
Inflammation or the presence of pus and may progress to cellulitis in the surrounding tissues with inflammation of the vein or phlebitis. Bacteraemia (bloodstream infection) may also occur.
What is the Aseptic non-touch technique?
A non-touch technique used in venepuncture where the environment is sterile, and the clinician uses single use equipment. Non sterile gloves should be used because of the significant health and safety risk of infection from blood bourne pathogens.
What is the skin antisepsis of choice in venepuncture?
Mediswab or SoluIV
What do you do is a needle stick injury or blood/body fluid exposure should occur?
Locate a blood and body fluid exposure (BBFE) pack from your clinical area and follow the instructions alternatively follow DHB procedure
Exposure to blood.body fluids carries the risk of what?
Sero-conversion with HIV, hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C and less well known pathogens
How does blood and body fluid exposure occur during venepuncture?
Excessive bleeding during the procedure
Sample bottle breakage/leak during transportation
Sample bottle break/leak in the laboratory
Put the five moments of hand hygiene in the correct order:
After a procedure or body fluid exposure risk
After touching a patient
After touching a patient’s surroundings
Before touching a patient
Before a procedure
Before touching a patient
Before a procedure
After a procedure or body fluid exposure risk
After touching a patient
After touching a patient’s surroundings
A device that penetrates and by-passes the protective barrier of the skin increases the risk of infection: True or False?
True
Inadequate skin cleaning or hand washing leads to bacteria entering the venepuncture site: True or False?
True
Immunosuppresed patients are not especially vunerable to infection: True or False?
False
Infection may develop where the needle enters the skin: True or False?
True
Non sterile gloves must be worn: True or False?
True
