M. Neuburger

Infektionsreduktion bei peripherer Katheterregionalanästhesie

In the present study the efficacy of subcutaneous tunneling and a 10 min disinfection time with a 70% alcoholic solution to reduce the infection rate in continuous interscalene plexus anesthesia were examined. In a prospective study 1,134 continuous interscalene plexus anesthesias were included. In group 1 (473 catheters) a cotton swab was soaked with the alcoholic solution and swabbed 3 times at the puncture site in the classical manner. In group 2 (661 catheters) disinfection was carried out by spray and swab application with a disinfection time of at least 10 min. In group 1, 19% of the catheters were tunneled subcutaneously, whereas in group 2 this occurred in 89%. In group 1 inflammation occurred in 25 cases (5.3%) and an infection in 32 cases (6.8%). In group 2 there were 37 cases of inflammation (5.5%) and 13 infections (2.0%). The difference between the groups in the infection rate is statistically significant (p<0.002). The practicability of the 10 min disinfection time in the clinical routine was excellent. A 10 min disinfection time with a 70% alcoholic solution combined with subcutaneous tunneling led to a significantly lower infection rate in continuous peripheral regional anesthesia in the neck of the patient.

Infection control in continuous peripheral regional anesthesia. Clinical study on disinfection time and subcutaneous tunneling in interscalene plexus anesthesia

In the present study the efficacy of subcutaneous tunneling and a 10 min disinfection time with a 70% alcoholic solution to reduce the infection rate in continuous interscalene plexus anesthesia were examined. In a prospective study 1,134 continuous interscalene plexus anesthesias were included. In group 1 (473 catheters) a cotton swab was soaked with the alcoholic solution and swabbed 3 times at the puncture site in the classical manner. In group 2 (661 catheters) disinfection was carried out by spray and swab application with a disinfection time of at least 10 min. In group 1, 19% of the catheters were tunneled subcutaneously, whereas in group 2 this occurred in 89%. In group 1 inflammation occurred in 25 cases (5.3%) and an infection in 32 cases (6.8%). In group 2 there were 37 cases of inflammation (5.5%) and 13 infections (2.0%). The difference between the groups in the infection rate is statistically significant (p<0.002). The practicability of the 10 min disinfection time in the clinical routine was excellent. A 10 min disinfection time with a 70% alcoholic solution combined with subcutaneous tunneling led to a significantly lower infection rate in continuous peripheral regional anesthesia in the neck of the patient.

Infektionsreduktion bei peripherer Katheterregionalanästhesie@@@Infection control in continuous peripheral regional anesthesia: Klinische Studie zur Desinfektionszeit und zur subkutanen Tunnelung bei interskalenärer Plexusanästhesie@@@Clinical study on disinfection time and subcutaneous tunneling in interscalene plexus anesthesia

In the present study the efficacy of subcutaneous tunneling and a 10 min disinfection time with a 70% alcoholic solution to reduce the infection rate in continuous interscalene plexus anesthesia were examined. In a prospective study 1,134 continuous interscalene plexus anesthesias were included. In group 1 (473 catheters) a cotton swab was soaked with the alcoholic solution and swabbed 3 times at the puncture site in the classical manner. In group 2 (661 catheters) disinfection was carried out by spray and swab application with a disinfection time of at least 10 min. In group 1, 19% of the catheters were tunneled subcutaneously, whereas in group 2 this occurred in 89%. In group 1 inflammation occurred in 25 cases (5.3%) and an infection in 32 cases (6.8%). In group 2 there were 37 cases of inflammation (5.5%) and 13 infections (2.0%). The difference between the groups in the infection rate is statistically significant (p<0.002). The practicability of the 10 min disinfection time in the clinical routine was excellent. A 10 min disinfection time with a 70% alcoholic solution combined with subcutaneous tunneling led to a significantly lower infection rate in continuous peripheral regional anesthesia in the neck of the patient.