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HOW FREQUENTLY SHOULD IN-LINE SUCTION CATETHERS BE
CHANGED?
Megan Martin, BS, RCP; Jodi Peters, BS,
RCP; Carissa Yackus, BS, RCP; Deborah Cullen, EdD, RRT, FAARC,
Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN
BACKGROUND: Evidence based guidelines (EBG)
suggest that the use of closed system suction catheters should be
used to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Moreover,
they do not need to be changed daily. Our aim is to determine the
frequency for in-line suction catheter changes among practicing
respiratory clinicians in Indiana compared to what the evidence based
guidelines suggest, and also to determine if level of education or
credentials have any effect on compliance with hospital policy.
METHODS: A listing of licensed respiratory
care practioners (RCP) was obtained from the Health Professions
Bureau of Indiana. Random selection consisted of mailing to every
13th RCP out of 3,444, a total of 265. The surveys
consisted of nine questions regarding their county, level of
experience, education, and frequency of changing the in-line
catheters. Our overall return rate with two mailings was 38%.
RESULTS:Our overall return rate with two mailings was 38%.
Returned survey demographics determined for experience 24.8% <10
years, 38.6% < 20 years, 36.6% > 20 years; education level was
21% BS degree, 62% AS degree, 17% other; and credentials were 69%
RRT, 28% CRT, 2% RCP and 1% other. See Table 1. For a RCP with a
Bachelor’s Degree, it was stated 65% always change on time, 10%
may forget every now and then, and 25% did not suction. For a RCP
with an Associate’s Degree, 64% reported always changing on
time, 13% may forget every now and then, 2% sometimes change on time,
and 21% did not suction. For the other category, 88% always changed
on time, 6% may forget now and then, and 6% did not respond.
TABLE
ONE
| Suction? |
How often
are in-lines changed? |
Compliance
with
policy? |
| 81% Yes |
39% Daily |
84%
Always |
| 19% No |
22%
Weekly |
15% May
Forget |
| |
10% PRN |
1%
Sometimes on time |
| |
29% Other |
0% Never
on time |
CONCLUSION: We have
determined that most hospitals do not follow the EBG and are changing
catheters on a daily basis. There are no conclusive differences
regarding frequency of changes with credential comparison of a CRT to
RRT or level of education. Respiratory clinicians may require
additional review of in-line suction EBG emphasizing frequency of
catheter change.
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