PC-01. Daily skin care for HSCT recipients
Natalya P. Gusleva, Olga V. Pimenova, Larisa N. Shelikhova
Dmitry Rogachev National Medical Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Immunology, Moscow, Russia
Contact: Natalya P. Gusleva, e-mail: natalja-leshhuk@rambler.ru
Summary
Introduction
It is crucially important to ensure proper skin and mucosa care for onco-hematological patients at all stages of treatment, including HSCT. The primary tasks of a nurse are comprehensive care and inspection of skin and mucosae, especially in immunosuppressed and ICU patients, for the prevention of infectious complications. Our objectives were to develop a procedure for proper skin and mucosa nursing care for critically ill pediatric inpatients.
Materials and methods
Skin and mucosa care guidelines have been developed at the D. Rogachev Centre for use at the: Departments of Hematology, Oncology and Immunology; intensive care unit; HSCT units; preoperative wards. Instructions and recommendations provided by the manufacturers of skin care products used at the Centre as well as the nurses’ own strategies in providing the most comfortable and safe patient care have been taken into account and included into daily care. It is also necessary that parents should be instructed in skin and mucosa care and provided with printed recommendations.
Results
The procedure is characterized by: convenience (involving usage of a special trolley); handling simplicity (it does not require any special care products); order and efficiency (all the required sanitary products are stored in one place at no risk for omitting some components); uniformity (all the nurses receive appropriate training and implement the procedure into their daily practice). The procedure has been primarily developed for immunocompromised ICU and HSCT patients who cannot leave isolation rooms due to medical reasons and require gentle skin care.
Conclusion
Introduction of the care procedure has greatly improved the quality of skin and mucosal care and, hence, significantly reduced the risk of infectious complications.
Keywords
Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), skin and mucosa, complications, prevention, nursing care, recommendations.