West Asia Organization for Cancer Prevention (WAOCP), APOCP's West Asia Chapter. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 1513-7368 20 9 2019 09 01 Impact of Early Dressing Removal on Tunneled Central Venous Catheters: A Piloting Study 2693 2697 88741 10.31557/APJCP.2019.20.9.2693 EN Ghada Ammar King Hussein Cancer Center, Jordan. Ezzaldeen Almashaikh King Hussein Cancer Center, Jordan. Ahmad Ibdah King Hussein Cancer Center, Jordan. Waleed Shajrawi King Hussein Cancer Center, Jordan. Safwat Awawdeh King Hussein Cancer Center, Jordan. Ayoub AL Mousa King Hussein Cancer Center, Jordan. Belal AL-Blowi King Hussein Cancer Center, Jordan. Moh’d Baseem Hamdan King Hussein Cancer Center, Jordan. Amani Al Eleiwah King Hussein Cancer Center, Jordan. Wala Al Jabali King Hussein Cancer Center, Jordan. Hussien Hussien King Hussein Cancer Center, Jordan. Abdelrahman Salameh King Hussein Cancer Center, Jordan. Mohammad Alkharabsheh King Hussein Cancer Center, Jordan. Journal Article 2019 01 16 Background: Central Venous Catheters (CVC) are linked with Catheter-related bloodstream infections (CLABSI)<br />or exit-site infections. Dressings may reduce the rate of infection, but they are uncomfortable, do not eliminate the<br />risk of infection, and in some cases become the cause of infection. Aim: This study evaluates the impact of early<br />CVC dressing removal on CLABSI, exit-site infections, and patient quality of life in an oncology setting. Method: A<br />quasi-experimental pilot study was conducted over 15 months at a specialized oncology center. Sixteen patients were<br />divided into control (n=8) and experimental (n=8) groups. The control group received the standard protocol of applying<br />CVC dressings, while the experimental group received a “no-dressing” protocol. Results: There was no statistical<br />significance in the infection rate between the two groups (p=1.0). Two cases developed CLABSIs, one in each group.<br />One patient from the experimental group developed an exit-site infection as well. Patients in the experimental group<br />reported high satisfaction and an improved quality of life. Conclusions: Applying a no-dressing protocol to a wellhealed<br />exit site CVC showed encouraging results in terms of exit-site and bloodstream infections. That is to say; it<br />did not predispose patients to increased risk of infections. Furthermore, patients with no dressing protocol feel more<br />comfortable in their life. https://journal.waocp.org/article_88741_11e75dea05e05561eaf89e3c7eb6440c.pdf