My friend just started PD and we all live together in a household. He said that the nurse told him to wash his hands before PD but not after. I told him of course he has to wash his hands after doing an exchange, its only right. Have a question about if I am right. Also, when we take out the trash, is it contagious, to catch anything from taking out his trash, if he doesn't wash his hands after doing PD? I am concerned about catching something , if he doesn't wash his hands after ward. To me, it is obvious that he should wash his hands after wards, along with before. Thanks.

Jane,

This is an obvious case of ignorance of the process. At no time during the exchange is your friend exposed to anything that would be contagious. He has to wash his hands before the exchange in order to prevent any germs or bacteria from getting into his catheter. If he is exposed to the fluid in his drain bag, yes he should wash his bag. The fluid in his drain bag is no more dangerous than urine.

As for his trash, no you are not going to catch anything from taking out his trash. If you are that paranoid, simply wash your hands after you handle the trash.

There is a lot of literature and information available on PD. I would strongly recommend that you get some more informaiton, read up on the process. If you are going to live with a PD patient, you need to be better informed.

Mick, Thank you for explaining to me about PD, I am ignorant about it. I am confused because the nurse said that my friend should wash his hands after PD, and my friend said he only has to wash hands before it, so it is confusing to me, as I don't know which is right. It doesn't sound like this is an issue for people. I guess I wish my friend would just tell me of course he would wash his hands after doing PD, it would make me feel better as the nurse said that he should wash his hands after.

quote:

Originally posted by Mick:
Jane,

This is an obvious case of ignorance of the process. At no time during the exchange is your friend exposed to anything that would be contagious. He has to wash his hands before the exchange in order to prevent any germs or bacteria from getting into his catheter. If he is exposed to the fluid in his drain bag, yes he should wash his bag. The fluid in his drain bag is no more dangerous than urine.

As for his trash, no you are not going to catch anything from taking out his trash. If you are that paranoid, simply wash your hands after you handle the trash.

There is a lot of literature and information available on PD. I would strongly recommend that you get some more informaiton, read up on the process. If you are going to live with a PD patient, you need to be better informed.

Jane,

I don't necessarily wash my hands after an exchange. If I drain the drain bag, then yes, I would wash my hands. If I were to use the restroom, I would wash my hands so it is the same thing. Please ask your friend to bring home some informational material from the dialysis center. They should have video tapes as well as training manuals. Either one would give you a lot of information so you would have a better understanding of the process.

Good Luck!

Mick, Thank you so much, again. I really feel I don't have anyone to talk to. I don't want to bother the PD nurse. But now, my friend is draining the drain bag in the sink in the bathrrom, instead of the toilet or shower. I have extreme anxiety and am on medication for anxiety.
He said he has to use the sink of the bathroom instead of the toilet to drain the bag because he said he spills the bag , it slips , and so he is using the sink and then he puts bleach down the sink afterward. I now have given him that bathroom because part of my terrible anxiety is germ phobic. Luckily we have two bathrooms, but I did tell him that the nurse told me that he is supposed to use the shower or toilet (I haven't mentioned to the nurse about him using the sink. Then after he puts the bleach in the sink after he drains the bag, he rinses his hands in the bleach. I am glad I have this opportunity to be on theis forum and I respect your views,Mick. What dod you think of this , Best to you, Bonny

quote:

Originally posted by Mick:
Jane,

I don't necessarily wash my hands after an exchange. If I drain the drain bag, then yes, I would wash my hands. If I were to use the restroom, I would wash my hands so it is the same thing. Please ask your friend to bring home some informational material from the dialysis center. They should have video tapes as well as training manuals. Either one would give you a lot of information so you would have a better understanding of the process.

Good Luck!

I would be concerned about him draining the bag in the sink as well. You wouldn't urinate in the sink so he shouldn't drain his bag there. I am glad however, that he is atleast rinsing the sink with bleach afterward. What I would suggest is that he put a stool or small table in the bathroom. When he is ready to drain the bag, place it on the stool, move the stool up to the toilet and then drain the bag. That way, he should be able to drain the bag without spilling it.