Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by mojavenation on October 12, 2011 at 11:43am

I agree Brian. When my daughter was taking shots we never used alcohol swabs. We used pens so I figured the cap would keep the rubber stopper clean and if you can inject through clothes then why would you need to clean it first.
Now that she is on the pump I alcohol everything. Top of bottle, infusion set site. It just seems like since it is going to be on full time for 3 days, I want to make sure it is as clean as possible.
I have to get after my daughter all the time about washing her hands before testing. She doesn't seem to think it makes a difference, but I have noticed that having dirty hands can make her meter read incorrectly. I have seen a drop of 45 pts after washing her hands.
I keep the Novolog refrigerated. Right after my daughter went on the pump I was keeping it in the cupboard per pump instructors advice but it seemed to me that the insulin wasn't working as well so I went back to refrigeration. I just make sure to take the bottle out about 20 minutes before using.

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Permalink Reply by Gerri on October 8, 2011 at 7:25pm

Swabbing with alcohol doesn't disinfect anything. To disinfect, it would need to be submerged in alcohol for a while. I've never swabbed insulin with alcohol or my skin before injecting or testing. I keep my insulin refrigerated (Apidra & Levemir) or in a Frio wallet. Keeping it at a constant temp can't hurt.

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Permalink Reply by MossDog on October 8, 2011 at 9:30pm

I guess that's the point of people who use alcohol swabs are making. Can't hurt right? Although, I know if you are using alcohol swabs when testing and don't wait for it to dry before pricking your finger it can screw up your number. I guess it can also hurt when you get "wipes" that are infected with bacteria as well. Maybe it IS safer to just not use it eh?

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Permalink Reply by Baby Tee on October 9, 2011 at 1:28am

Not since sometimes in the 80's. I'd guess 1985 or 1986.

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Permalink Reply by Kд§$ị (ИσvΔ) on October 9, 2011 at 2:20am

I have swabs- I almost never use them. Nobody uses my pens but me. They're always capped when not in use. Nobody touches them but me. I wash my hands before I inject. I haven't ever really seen the point. I will sometimes swab my injection site, but I have never felt the need to swab my vial before using it.

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Permalink Reply by DARGIRL on October 9, 2011 at 6:15am

Yes, I pump. I stopped using iv prep after that contamination thing last year. I wipe the bottle before inserting the reservoir and wipe my skin at the insertion site if I am between showers.

I don't use swabs when I test. I have been doing this so long I can remember cotton balls and pouring the alcohol on the cotton. 40 years. My mother would tell me not to make a mess with the alcohol.

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Permalink Reply by NatalieHodge on October 9, 2011 at 7:51am

I'm a pediatrician, new to personal experience with my daughters type one,  I have taught her to swipe vials, fingers, Omnipod sites, everything with alcohol.  This is just basic sterile technique, basic science.  Our community has rates of community acquired Mrsa in the 40% range.  I'm not an endo,  but I would recommend it as routine for all diabetics!! 

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Permalink Reply by Sue59 on October 9, 2011 at 8:13am

Does swiping with an alcohol swab kill the MRSA bacteria?

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Permalink Reply by SuFu, Ph.D. on October 9, 2011 at 7:02pm

Absolutely. Getting back to Gerri's point, it has to be covered. The EtOH doesn't kill it, but weakens the membranes. The rubbing action is what kills the bacteria by completely rupturing the membrane. It doesn't take much EtOH to "soak" the top of the vial, more than enough is contained in a swab.

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Permalink Reply by Sue59 on October 9, 2011 at 8:03pm

Interesting food for thought. Thanks for the information.

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Permalink Reply by MossDog on October 10, 2011 at 1:43pm

Can you explain the community aquired MRSA in the 40% range. I can't figure out what that means. 40% of all people in your area have had a community aquired MRSA infection? Or 40% are colonized but not with a active community aquired MRSA infection?

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Permalink Reply by Regina on October 9, 2011 at 7:06pm

I do. It's just habit.

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