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Not quite nursing I guess but they'll know if not - went for a blood test for the second time in 6 months and again they didn't bother swabbing my arm with anti-nasty stuff. Now cleanliness doesn't overly bother me normally - I get into some nasty chemicals and muck and the only time I've ever fallen foul of anything was eating a Wimpey burger, but with a direct line into my veins am I being overly paranoid asking why they're not swabbing my arm? They didn't do it when I had my blood donation tests done either - is it standard practice to not bother now? I'm fine with it if it's an accepted method and not deemed a big enough risk, just curious.
It's still standard practice to swab it.
We've changed from alcohol to chlorhexadine as it is more effective.
Introducing bacteria into the vein can cause local infection as well as septicaemia (blood poisoning) and worst case endocarditis (infected heart valve).
If no swab then at least a spit & rub with an old hanky. 😀
😀 hmm well that's a tad worrying I guess, thanks for the advice. I might ask them to swab it next time, especially as I generally come right from work rather than right from the shower.
I run a blood clinic occasionally, we used to swab with alcohol but now use a thing a bit like a felt tip pen containing alcohol.
I dont think theres much risk of introducing infection taking blood with sterile equipment through visibly clean skin, but I follow local policy, and i'd imagine they will be doing the same.