I had someone ask me if patients going outside to smoke were at higher risk of BSI. This nurse was from a hospital with a fair number of patients with CVCx that do go out to smoke. I don't think that necessarily increases their risk. If there is other risky behavior like drug use via CVC associated with the trip outside, that is different. What do you think?
Gwen
I can see how going out to smoke would increase the risk of CRBSI, other than the obvious problems caused by nicotine addition and immunospression. I have never seen any research on this issue though. I do know of one case study - immediately following CVAD removal the patient went outside to smoke. The deep inhalation while standing pulled air into the intact skin-to-vein tract and fibrin sheath. They were even able to document this in radiology. But this is the only publications I know of relating CVCs to smoking. Lynn
Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RN, NPD-BC, CRNI
Lynn Hadaway Associates, Inc.
PO Box 10
Milner, GA 30257
Website http://www.hadawayassociates.com
Office Phone 770-358-7861