Estimation of the Incidence of Colonization of Peripheral Venous Catheters After Skin Disinfection With 0.5% Sodium Hypochlorite, Preceded or Not by an Application of 70% Ethanol

Estimation of the Incidence of Colonization of Peripheral Venous Catheters After Skin Disinfection With 0.5% Sodium Hypochlorite, Preceded or Not by an Application of 70% Ethanol: Pilot, Monocentric, Randomized, Open-label Study

The peripheral venous catheter is the most commonly used medical device in the hospital setting. Infectious complications are infrequent, bacterial or fungal, and local or systemic (catheter-related bacteremia). The latter prolong the length of hospitalization and increase the cost of care and mortality. For peripheral venous catheters, the risk of catheter-related bacteremia is lower (0.2-0.7 episodes per 1000 catheter days) than for other intravascular devices. However, the much higher number of peripheral venous catheters used explains a total number of infections close to that of other catheters. Colonization is usually the preliminary step to catheter infection. It is far more common than infection. Skin disinfection prior to catheter insertion is therefore essential to prevent this complication.

Currently, Chlorhexidine or Povidone Iodine in alcoholic solution is recommended before insertion of a peripheral venous catheter. Although rare, allergies may contraindicate these antiseptics. The widespread use of antiseptics in recent years for hand disinfection, mouthwashes or body baths could increase the risk of the development of strains that have become less sensitive, or even resistant, to currently available antiseptics. Allergies and reduced sensitivity require the search for alternatives to currently available solutions. Sodium hypochlorite is used to disinfect mucous membranes or healthy skin before an invasive procedure in children under 30 months of age. Very few studies have evaluated its efficacy in adults for this same indication, despite the fact that it was the first antiseptic used to prevent infections.

The aim of this study is to estimate the colonization rate of peripheral venous catheters after skin disinfection with 0.5% sodium hypochlorite (Dakin®) alone or preceded by an application of 70% ethanol.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adult patient (≥18 years old) requiring hospitalization in participating services
• Having an indication for the placement of a peripheral venous catheter for an expected duration of at least 48 hours
• Free subject, without guardianship or curatorship or subordination
• A person affiliated to or benefiting from a social security scheme.
• Having given free and informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Hypersensitivity to any of the constituents of Dakin® and/or Cooper® modified alcohol;
• History of epilepsy,
• Placement of a peripheral venous catheter in the emergency room that does not allow the usual rules of hygiene to be respected;
• Difficult vascular access foreseeable (drug addict, obese, non-visible veins...);
• Participation in another research protocol reducing the risk of catheter-related infection;
• Patient having received an antibiotic treatment in the 15 days prior to inclusion in the study;
• Patient who has already participated in the study;
• Subjects not affiliated with a Social Security system.
• Subjects benefiting from enhanced protection, namely persons deprived of their liberty by a judicial or administrative decision, persons staying in a health or social institution, adults under legal protection (guardianship and trusteeship) and finally patients in emergency situations.
• Pregnant or breastfeeding women, women of child-bearing age who do not have effective contraception (hormonal/mechanical: per os, injectable, transcutaneous, implantable, intrauterine device, or surgical: tubal ligation, hysterectomy, total oophorectomy...).