Any medical people about? Is this a concern?

[Cherryhotchoc]

If a nurse was using the keyboard and mouse and going in and out do the room, touching door handles etc and then took someone’s blood without wearing gloves or washing their hands, is this a concern?

They were feeling the person’s arm for a vein and then putting a needle in. Is there potential for any bacteria from their unwashed hand to be transferred to their skin and then pushed into a person’s blood stream via the vein? Could this make them unwell? The person who had the blood test is vulnerable and I’m concerned.

No need to wipe unless you are visibly dirty. Should have washed her hands BUT the chances of you getting an infection is really tiny. Try not to worry and work on your assertiveness so you can speak up next time.

I’m not a nurse but am a healthcare worker. Since Covid, I wipe down every surface between patients including my keyboard, mouse and door handles. Perhaps she had done this too?

Is it really normal practice in the UK to perform venepuncture without washing hands, wearing gloves or cleaning the skin with an alcohol swab?

My goodness that’s the direct opposite of everywhere I’ve ever worked for the past fifteen years.

Are people sure they mean venepuncture? IM injections don’t require gloves or cleaning the skin unless dirty. Venepuncture accesses the vein.

Can someone share the guidelines they’re using?

The WHO guidelines are clear - hand hygiene, gloves, disinfect site etc.

Same as the guidelines in the countries in which I’ve practiced.

NHS evidence for both nurse training and blood transfusion venepuncture confirms appropriate asepsis and hand hygiene required

www.evidence.nhs.uk/search?q=venepuncture%20guidelines

Gloves used during venepuncture are to protect the blood taker as in case of needle stick injury it might help decrease blood borne disease transmission

I had this happen to me, nurse touched computer, bin, door etc then tapped my veins with her finger then inserted needle. Never gelled or washed her hands first. No gloves either. Just before she did it I challenged her and asked if she'd washed her hands. She very grumpily told me she always washes her hands AFTER every patient so there is no need to wash them again before a procedure. I admit I didn't know what to do and let her proceed. I was fine, no infection but wish I'd brought it up with the practice manager.

It is not necessary to swab the skin before an injection. If the area is visibly dirty then it should be washed prior to injection however swabbing is unnecessary. You will however find varying best practice guidelines from various sources which contradict one another.

Was the nurse not carrying a small pocket hand gel which she discreetly used prior to attending the patient?

I would be interested in how many of the people commenting on what is best practice are actually medically trained people who actually know what they are talking..

Although the chances of infection are extremely low, it is good practice to perform the insertion of anything using aseptic technique. I’m a nurse trained in venepuncture & we are all trained in washing our hands, wearing gloves & swabbing the skin with an alcohol wipe before insertion. Lots of little bacteria sit on the surface of the skin so it is possible for that bacteria to be transferred. It is a low risk of being harmful though.

...about

@stclair that’s not true, gloves wouldn’t help in a needle stick injury with the transmission of BBV. Gloves should always be worn in clinical settings when performing any clinical duties, it’s good practice & infection control procedures

@Newmama29
That’s why I said “might help decrease “. There is evidence that in the event of needle piercing glove some of the blood is wiped off therefore preventing as much being transferred. Double-gloving would of course prevent even more.

@AwaAnBileYerHeid

It is not necessary to swab the skin before an injection. If the area is visibly dirty then it should be washed prior to injection however swabbing is unnecessary. You will however find varying best practice guidelines from various sources which contradict one another.

Was the nurse not carrying a small pocket hand gel which she discreetly used prior to attending the patient?

Not before an injection. In fact I believe it's contra-indicated in some vaccine situations for example.

But venepuncture is not an injection

@AnnabelleMarx

Is it really normal practice in the UK to perform venepuncture without washing hands, wearing gloves or cleaning the skin with an alcohol swab?

My goodness that’s the direct opposite of everywhere I’ve ever worked for the past fifteen years.

Are people sure they mean venepuncture? IM injections don’t require gloves or cleaning the skin unless dirty. Venepuncture accesses the vein.

Absolutely sure, it was a blood test!

Although all was okay, no infection.

Still not impressed with what happened and next time would speak up there and then.

I would inform her manager, she should wash her hands before and after each patient contact, she might need up to date training. I would be really upset if a nurse did this to me.