Malpractice? Report or get over yourself?

It is not malpractice

I would complain - I complained about something similar once - it is terrible practice and she needs to be urgently retrained.

In terms of risk, this is about as dangerous as kissing the top of your brothers head when you visit him.

It’s important to keep perspective if you do want to politely raise it with one of the staff.

This is very poor practice & needs reporting to the ward manager, as this is a surgical ward. The human mouth carries more bacteria than a dogs. Make a note of the time, date & name of nurse involved & that of who you report it to. Ask that it's recorded in your brothers medical records too.

What outcome would expect from reporting this? What outcome would you like from reporting this?

As pp said this is not malpractice and you should avoid using that description when (not if, from the hyperbolic tone of your OP) you report it to avoid appearing an attention seeking drama llama.

It’s really poor practice but as a PP said - more a risk to her than him. Sounds like an outdated habit she’s got into and is doing it automatically. We don’t routinely cover the skin anymore after taking blood - if it bleeds, we just apply pressure until it stops. Taking blood is a “clean” rather than “aseptic” procedure. But she was wrong to do that. It’s pretty rank actually- but more so for her.

washing “head to foot” won’t really impact on overall infection control as you can’t sterilise skin. thorough handwashing at the required times and use of PPE for wound cleaning etc is crucial.

I think you should raise it as practice you are unhappy about but it’s not malpractice.

I’m sure you want the best care for your brother and hope he recovers from his op soon.

However, using some non sterile tape to hold a clean piece of cotton wool in place over a needle puncture is not cause for alarm. The tape is not touching an open wound.

I'd have just mentioned at the time that you don't want her to apply it because her mouth was by it. I wouldn't report it.

Those rolls of tape are fomites! They are covered in bacteria, bits of dead skin, fluff from pockets, dirt from the air and environment.
So, the nurse tearing it with her teeth is more likely to get and infection that your brother
Such rolls of tape are a real cause of infection

This could be described as “bad practice” but I wouldn’t escalate a complaint.

Medical malpractice is defined as neglecting to take action or provide appropriate care which results in injury, harm or death of a patient.

This was before his operation- a straightforward blood test so we’re talking about a tiny pin prick puncture wound?

I don’t think it’s outrageous that her mouth touched the edge of the plaster., and not worth reporting.

You could have expressed your disproval at the time.

That’s really odd, the tape is generally tearable so there would be no need to bite it to tear it.
Why didn’t you just say something at the time? You should have told her to get a new piece that hasn’t been in her mouth.
By all means mention that it’s likely a breach of infection control, it will not affect the care your brother receives.