Prevent Infections

If germs get into your central line and into your

blood stream, it can cause a life-threatening Glossary
infection. There are many ways to keep this from
happening:
The Patient Should:
PROTECTING
YOUR PORT A
CATHETER
• Wash your hands often.

• Do not touch your line or dressing unless

necessary.

• Keep your dressing clean and dry.

• Shower daily and cover your dressing when

showering.

The Nurse Should:

• Wash hands before and after caring for the
central line.

• Scrub the hub every time the line is used.

• If using site scrub, turn it 8—10 times.

• If using alcohol prep, scrub for 15 seconds.

Allow it to dry. Aqua guard shield: used to Site Scrub: Used to clean the
keep your dressing dry. hub 8 turns or 10 seconds
For the Dressing Change the Nurse Should:
• Use a mask and special gloves.

• Change the dressing every 7 days. What is a Port a Catheter?

• Change the dressing if bloody, wet, or loose.
I Port-a-Catheter is a small medical device that is
Using Sterile Techniq ue means: placed under the skin. A plastic hollow tube is fixed to
Biopatch: Protective disk that Sterile Gloves
• Face masks must be worn by patient and the port and passes through to the largest vein near
prevents germs from from
anyone within three feet of the bed during
growing. Good for 7 days. Must be the heart.
insertion and dressing changes. Wear sterile
used on Port A Cath if needle will
gloves.
be in more than 8 hours.
• Use a sterile dressing kit.

• Scrub the “exit site” and the skin around the

central line back and forth for at least 30
seconds and let dry.
Port A Catheter Do’s and Don’ts When To Call Your Doctor:
Port-a-Catheter is a small medical device that is placed
under the skin. A plastic line is fixed to the port and Do’s Don’ts Signs of Infection
passes through to the largest vein near the heart. It may
• Return to normal • Do not lift more than • New pain or tenderness.
have 1 or 2 lumens.
activities after port the doctor ordered.
• Any redness around your port.
incision has healed.
• No swimming in pool,
• Drainage, pus, oozing, or wetness around the
• Have the dressing lakes, or ocean if
catheter.
changed at least every needle is in place.
seven days when port • A foul odor coming from the dressing.
is accessed. • Do not touch your port
while it is accessed. • A swollen face, neck, or arm on the side of the central
• Keep your dressing dry. line.
It is ok to use plastic
wrap and tape or • A fever of 100.4F or greater.
special gloves called
• Incision site that does not heal.
Aqua Guard Gloves as
Patient should keep their inserted device identification needed.
card and discharge instructions with them.
• Keep your port line Signs of a Blood Clot
• A special needle, called a Huber needle, will be
lumens close to your
used to access your port. Your port is always • Swelling and/or a new pain in the arm, neck, or face
entered using a sterile kit, while wearing sterile body while accessed.
on the side of the line.
gloves, and a mask. Ok to use tape.

• The needle can be left in place for up to seven • Keep the inserted
days with a special protective dressing and use
device identification
Signs of Bleeding
of a Biopatch.
card and discharge • Dressing wet with blood.
• Can be used for IV fluids, chemotherapy, instructions with you at
antibiotics, blood products or intravenous • A bruise that gets bigger around your line.
all times.
nutrition. It may also be used to draw blood. A
“power-injectable” port can be used for
intravenous contrast.

• This catheter is inserted and removed by a

surgeon or an interventional radiologist.
Who to call in case of emergency: