Comparative research of removal alcohol with iodine or not in PICC maintenance

Objective To observe the effect of removal alcohol with iodine or not in PICC maintenance. Methods Sixty patients who had PICC were randomized into observation group (n=30) and control group (n=30). Besides routine disinfection method and operation, the observation group used alcohol to remove the iodine. While the control group only received the routine disinfection method and operation. The bacterial cultivation of the skin surface around the PICC insertion site, drying time and time to change the dressing were compared between groups, and observed rolled-up dressing after 7 days of change the dressing. Results The bacterial cultivation of the skin surface around the PICC insertion site were not significantly different between groups (t=6.38, P>0.05). The natural air drying time and the total time of change the dressing of the observation group were (6.41±4.80) minutes and (16.60±2.71) minutes, which were significantly shorter than those of the control group (t=6.38, 2.89, respectively; P<0.05). And the rolled-up dressing was 93.3% in the control group and 10.0% in the observation group. The difference was significant (χ2=41.72, P<0.05). Conclusions Using alcohol to remove the iodine in PICC maintenance can shorten the nursing time and improve the work efficiency. It can also decrease the rolled-up dressing, reduce the rate of infection of the insertion site and increase the safety of PICC indwelling. What's more, iodine on the skin removed with alcohol makes the patient feel much more comfortable. Key words: Alcohol; PICC; Dressing pad; Iodine