Preventing infection may be the single most important thing an Alpha can do to maintain their health. For Alphas with lung disease receiving augmentation therapy, this means that you and your infusion nurse must be diligent with the procedures used during your infusion to ensure that they are clean and germ-free.

Most drug preparation and infusion procedures should be completed using aseptic or clean technique with one essential goal – to protect you from infection and to prevent the spread of germs. The most common situations that call for aseptic measures during an infusion include: pooling augmentation therapy, inserting a peripheral catheter, or removing a port needle.

Here are a few helpful reminders for you and your infusion nurse:

• Identify and clean a designated work area.
• Gather all of the infusion supplies and then thoroughly wash your hands.
• Wear non-sterile*, medical-type gloves when placing a peripheral IV catheter.
• Wear non-sterile*, medical-type gloves to mix and pool your augmentation therapy.
• Use an alcohol wipe for each vial of medication and make sure to vigorously wipe the rubber seal of each vial and allow it to dry.
• Use one alcohol wipe for each vial of medication. (The normal weekly infuser should be using 1 box of alcohol wipes per quarterly order. A box typically contains 200 wipes.)

*Non-sterile gloves come bundled in multi-packs or boxes.

If your infusion is given through a central catheter or port, sterile technique procedures, which are even more protective than aseptic technique, must be used to access your port safely to reduce the risk of infection. Sterile technique includes the use of sterile supplies, including sterile gloves, which are usually packaged individually. If you or your nurse has questions about proper aseptic or sterile technique during infusion with augmentation therapy, please feel free to contact a member of our AlphaNet Medical Team (md@alphanet.org). They are available to answer any questions about your augmentation therapy, to assist in teaching patients, or to contact your nursing agency for education on infusion technique and supplies.

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