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The effect of the biopatch, a chlorhexidine impregnated dressing, on bacterial colonization of epidural catheter exit
T J Mann1, C E Orlikowski, L C Gurrin
1Department of Anaesthesia, Women and Infants Research Foundation, King Edward Memorial Hospital, Perth, Western Australia.
Abstract:
We performed a prospective, randomized study in 55 ASA I to 3 women undergoing elective gynaecological surgery followed by postoperative epidural analgesia. We compared the incidence of bacterial colonization at the epidural exit site following catheter removal between a control group and an experimental group who received a chlorhexidine impregnated dressing (Biopatch, Johnson and Johnson, Arlington, TX, U.S.A.). Positive culture results were found in 11 of 27 (40.1%) patients in the control group compared with one of 29 (3.4%) patients whose epidural catheters were dressed with the Biopatch. We concluded that the Biopatch was effective in reducing bacterial colonization of the epidural catheter exit site.