Preparing site on skin for injection

[HRH2009]

Someone on the forum with medical knowledge could probably answer something that has been puzzling me.

With the current interest in the Covid vaccination, I had mine three weeks ago, there seems to be no preparation/cleaning of the area of skin where the injection is made.

When I was a boy I remember my father, who was diabetic having a supply of surgical spirit. This was applied to the area of skin where the injection was going. I realise the syringes/needles today are one trip disposable items, so does this do away with any need to prepare the skin?

Also how do you cope with a heavily tattooed upper arm?

[spikeyhead]

I asked this question of a doctor some years ago, and from what I remember, smearing dirt round on the skin doesn't make any difference unless the needle is going to stay in place for a while, so it just isn't worth it for a quick jab.

[F1fan97]

Not sure of the precise reasoning (though the above makes sense), but the official guidance when training to give the jabs said not to clean the skin unless 'visibly soiled'.

With regards to tattoos, going straight through them doesn't make a difference as far as I'm aware.

Skin would always be cleaned before anything involving veins (blood tests, cannulas)

[thewhangie]

https://www.bmj.com/rapid-response/2011/10/27/swab...

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC25031...

These articles are interesting.

[JapanRed]

Pretty sure I had an alcohol swab on my arm before she stabbed me... Maybe the nurse did it so quick and immediately before the vaccine that you didn’t notice?

I still think it’s recommended to alcohol swab prior to puncturing the skin.

[Clifford Chambers]

I'm a T1 diabetic, for years I was on 6-7 injections a day. I never cleaned the site, rarely even washed my hands. Never had a problem.

Some diabetics even inject through clothing.

[HRH2009]

Clifford Chambers said:

I'm a T1 diabetic, for years I was on 6-7 injections a day. I never cleaned the site, rarely even washed my hands. Never had a problem.

Some diabetics even inject through clothing.

Thanks for all the replies.

It still amazes me that PH members seem to have collective knowledge on virtually any subject.

[Mr Pointy]

Surely there's a danger of driving all sorts of nasty stuff like MRSA & the coccusses into the blood stream if the area isn't swabbed first? They can live on the skin without harm but once they get past the skin via a cut or puncture them it can be very serious.

What happened to those air gun injections which didn't hurt at all? I'm sure I remember getting one as a kid & thinking it was much better than being jabbed.

[Badda]

No need to prep the skin for an IM injection unless the area is actually dirty.

[Satanic]

Edited by Bill on Friday 31st December 19:12

[popeyewhite]

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/governmen...

If the skin is clean, no further cleaning is necessary. Only visibly dirty skin
needs to be washed with soap and water.
It is not necessary to disinfect the skin. Studies have shown that cleaning the
skin with isopropyl alcohol reduces the bacterial count, but there is evidence
that disinfecting makes no difference to the incidence of bacterial complications
of injections (Del Mar et al., 2001; Sutton et al., 1999).

[Ouroboros]

i take injections every two weeks and was advised no prep needed.

[Starfighter]

I trained as a vaccinator and there was no requirement to go over the area if it was visibly clean.

[mike9009]

I am a T1 diabetic of 40 years. I inject at least four times a day. So, probably had in excess of 58,000 injections. I have only ever had one infected injection site back in the 1980s. That hurt when they dug it out with silver nitrate!

No prep, I just jab and go either in my stomach or thighs. I have been known to inject through my jeans/ T shirt too, if I am out in a restaurant or in public some where! Don't tell my doctor......

[Bill]

Looks like a noob with added spam...