Guidelines for the Administration of Intravenous Antibiotics at Home

The area you have selected for mixing your IV therapy must:

• At all times be kept clean and free from clutter

• Be a designated area for IV treatment

• Have no pets or litter trays kept in the room.

Your home environment will be assessed prior to commencing home IV therapy.

You will be sent home with all the medication and equipment you require to mix and administer your IV therapy. Most of the medication used does not need to be stored in the fridge. You will be informed of the medications that do require refrigeration.

You will need a clean dry shelf or cupboard to store the equipment; this should be away from a radiator and out of reach of children and pets. During the assessment in your home we will discuss the best place to use if you are unsure. All your medication will be provided by pharmacy. All the equipment you require will be provided by the CF unit.

If you have a shortage of anything, please contact the CF unit and we will arrange further supplies. If you have any medication or equipment left over from previous treatments, please complete the checklists that are provided and give that list to the CF nurse.

This will prevent wastage and your home having unnecessary medication lying around. We cannot take back medicines but you can use them for future treatments if still in date and stored appropriately so they can be used next time.

Please ensure the following:

• Any hoovering or dusting has been completed at least one hour prior to preparation and administration of medicines

• All windows and doors must be closed whilst preparing the IVs

• Only people who are assisting with preparation of the IVs between preparations should be present in the room

• There are no pets in the room • You have access to a watch or clock.

Wash the work surface and tray with hot soapy water using a disposable cloth and then dry with a paper kitchen towel. You can clean the trays in the dishwasher if you have one.

Collect all the equipment and medication required for this administration of IVs.

Wipe the clean tray with an alcohol wipe and allow it to dry for 20 seconds as per training instructions. Prepare the equipment and medication as per training and refer to the information sheets if needed. You will be given individual antibiotic information sheets if you require them.

Remember we never use syringes less than 10mL (5mL normal saline posiflushes have the same diameter as a 10mL syringe). Ensure all packaging is intact before opening – do not use wet or damaged items.

IV medication must be prepared immediately prior to use.

IV medication cannot be prepared hours before they are due to be given. This is due to the risk of infection and instability of the medication.

• Handwashing is the most important single method of controlling infection. It is VERY important that it is carried out correctly and at the appropriate times

• Fingernails should be kept clean and short, and jewellery should not be worn, except a wedding ring. False nails or nail varnish should not be worn • Any breaks on the skin should be covered with a waterproof dressing. If you have any worries regarding your skin, please contact the CF nurse who will give you the appropriate advice

• The CF nurse will discuss with you if you are required to wear gloves Where access to running water is safely available everyone must wash their hands with liquid soap to remove any germs from the skin and then dry thoroughly. 

Anyone supporting the administration of IV treatment must also be supervised in hand washing techniques.

Alcohol Hand Gel

After washing hands you will be required to use alcohol hand gel at different stages whilst preparing your antibiotics. If anyone involved in the IV treatment has an allergy to alcohol hand gel they must inform the CF specialist nurse who will suggest an alternative. Alcohol hand gel is not a replacement for washing hands. 

1.Before doing a finger prick test make sure you have all your equipment in a clean dry place.

2.Wash your hands and rinse with warm water (dirty hands can contaminate a blood sample and give an inaccurate result).

3.See diagram below showing the recommended fingers and sites for taking the blood sample. NOTE: Pricking the fleshy middle part of your finger can hurt more.

4.Choose a finger and massage it to improve blood circulation.

5.Hold the lancet on the side of the finger and press. Gently massage your finger from the base of the finger to the top to obtain a drop of blood.

6.Wipe away the first drop of blood and then continue to collect the blood into the bottle up to the brown line. Try to drip the sample into the bottle.

7. When you have collected enough blood put the brown cap on the tube and mix gently from side to side 10 times.

1.Enter date and time on the small sticky label highlighted.

2.Stick the label to tube.

3.Put the tube in the clear plastic bag and seal by peeling back the yellow strip and sticking down.

4. Attach the bag to the lab form by peeling back the white strip and sticking to the lab form.

5. Enter date and time on Pathology form (also highlighted). The CF nurse will have signed the form. 6.Protect sample from heat and light during transit by placing the sample in the envelope provided.

7. Deliver to pathology lab as soon as possible after obtaining sample.

8. Inform CF team that you have delivered sample, as soon as you have dropped it off by texting the CF mobile.