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Port-hygiene

Question
Dear expert team,
I would like to know, if there is a guideline in Germany for the hygiene of the port (disinfection etc.)?
Unfortunately, there are big differences between the childrens' out patient departments and the adults, which does irritate me as a patient totally. From sterile gloves, face mask to hardly disinfect the hands you find everything.
Yours sincerely,
Answer
Hello,
you have mentioned a point, which does not only present a problem for some patients in the CF-centers, but for all patients having a port. There are indeed very big differences between the outpatient departments, offices and hospitals, as there is no general standard or guideline.

In general it can be said, that hygiene and disinfection should be managed according to the general rules - and that is unfortunately not always the case: herein counts disinfection of the hands and sterile gloves, a disinfection of the skin, which should be long enough (dependent on the disinfectant at least one minute) and a sterile procedure with the materials (Port, syringe, etc) which are used.
About measures like face mask, closing of the windows, covering etc. one can dispute for sure, but the above mentioned things are actually basic condition and the one, who does not even disinfect his hands and does not wear gloves, you should not let him to your port - even if it is for sure not easy to say. It would be the best, and I say that often to my patients, you make ist yourself and/or make sure, that it is worked in a clean way.
Best regards
Prof. Dr. Joachim Bargon
09.07.2009