Just want to share something I’ve experienced with regard to my PICC line in my local clinic and see what you think.
After 7 months with my PICC line without any prob, one day in March was suddenly told they are changing some procedures with the line care - They are now changing the sticky bit which hold the line in its place and the vial bit at the end every week (sorry, don’t know the proper name for them, hope you know what I mean). All under the name of infection control! They also need to measure the length of the line that’s outside to make sure it’s not going in and out. All sounds very nice. But then I was told this is only at a “trial stage”.
The prob was when she did take my sticky bit out, a bit of skin came off with it and I was left with a tiny bit of bleeding. Was dealt with and no nasty consequences. But decided to opt out that bit - surely a broken skin is more likely to cause an infection than a slightly unclean sticky bit - well, they clean it anyway when they change the dressing. I didn’t even know they can be changed!
Surely, if it’s only a trail, anybody taking part should be asked for permission first anyway. Anybody heard about this trial? Surely my clinic won’t be the only one that has been selected. It is private, though. Anybody had heard about this on the NHS? Do you know those bits can be changed?
xx