Getting ready for peritoneal dialysis treatment

Getting ready for PD treatment

A clean environment is important. Germs can cause infections and are found on your skin and clothing. Antiseptic solutions can kill germs where regular soaps cannot. Carefully wash and dry your hands to protect your peritoneal dialysis catheter and exit site from germs.

Prepare your work area

The work area where you do your PD treatment should:

Be well lit
Be away from any drafts
Be away from open windows
Have all fans turned off
Be free of clutter
Not have pets in the area/room
Have a phone in the room and a flashlight in case of emergencies

For safe treatment, you should have a clean work surface that has been cleaned with a recommended cleaning agent and is large enough to arrange your supplies.

Gather your supplies

To get ready for your peritoneal dialysis treatment, you will need:

Solution bags
Clamps
MiniCap
IV pole or hook
Weight scale
Blood pressure cuff
Mask
Hand sanitizer
Pump soap
If needed, supplies for adding medications
Additional supplies as recommended by your nurse

When gathering your solution, remember to check for:

strength

Expiration date

Amount
(or size of bag)

leaks

If the expiry date has passed, select a new solution bag, repeat the checks with the new solution bag, and continue your preparation. Notify your nurse of any problems with the dialysis solution bag. Also, it is important to check to see if the fluid in the bag is clear.

It is important to keep your packaged peritoneal dialysis supplies sterile by handling carefully.

Do not touch supplies that need to stay sterile in order to avoid infection.

What is sterile?

Sterile means completely free of germs. It is important to keep germs from entering your peritoneal cavity. Safe connecting and disconnecting is done when you remember what parts of your supplies need to stay sterile. These supplies are packaged to keep them sterile and will need to stay sterile after the package is opened.

What is clean?

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Clean means most of the germs have been removed, but not all. Good handwashing and drying makes your hands clean, not sterile. Your work surface is clean, not sterile.

Aseptic technique

The aseptic technique is used to keep germs away from the sterile parts of your supplies and equipment. This will help keep germs from entering the peritoneal cavity and causing an infection (peritonitis). Putting on a mask, washing and drying your hands thoroughly as trained and remembering not to touch the sterile parts of your supplies are important steps in aseptic technique.

What do I do if a sterile part is dropped, touched or contaminated?

Throw it away and start with a new sterile supply
If you touch or believe you have contaminated your transfer set, DO NOT USE

Treatment: Connecting and disconnecting

Steps before connecting:

Use the aseptic technique when handling the solution bag(s) and supplies.

Ensure that area is well lit, all doors and windows are closed and that fans are turned off
Make sure work surface is clean
Gather needed supplies
Make your transfer set accessible
Put on a mask
Wash and dry your hands thoroughly as trained
Follow the recommended continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis or automated peritoneal dialysis connection procedures

Steps before disconnecting:

Use the aseptic technique when handling the supplies.

Make sure your transfer set is accessible
Put on a mask
Wash and dry your hands thoroughly as trained
Open a new disconnect cap package
Follow the recommended continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis or automated peritoneal dialysis connection procedures

Importance of handwashing

Handwashing is the most important thing you can do to protect yourself from germs and keep yourself healthy.

When preparing for your peritoneal dialysis exchange or exit-site care, the steps for handwashing include:

Gathering supplies:

Clean water
Antibacterial soap
Clean disposable towels
Alcohol hand rub
Face mask

Before you start:

Prepare clean work area
Gather supplies
Remove jewelry
Put on face mask
Remove catheter from under clothing

Wash:

Use plenty of clean running water and antibacterial soap
Using good friction, rub soap over your hands, creating a good lather for at least 20 seconds
Wash well between fingers and underneath nails
Rinse hands under running water

Think clean:

Use a clean disposable towel to turn off the tap
Apply alcohol hand rub and rub hands together until dry (20–30 seconds)
Do not touch anything until you start your exchange
If you do touch something, wash and dry your hands again

Dry:

Dry hands well using a clean disposable towel

Your dialysis nurse will teach you how to wash and dry your hands properly.