For a patient with an intraventricular catheter, which nursing action is essential to prevent infection?

• A. Aseptic technique to prevent infection.
• B. Replace catheter daily.
• C. Administer antibiotics prophylactically.
• D. Use sterile gloves only during dressing changes.

Answer: (A)

Maintaining aseptic technique is the most important way to prevent infection with an intraventricular catheter because the catheter provides a direct path from the skin into the brain’s ventricles. Throughout any handling of the drain, and during dressing changes, each step must preserve sterility—hand hygiene, sterile gloves and equipment, a sterile field, and sterile technique for all connections and manipulations. Keeping the drainage system closed and dressing changes performed without contamination minimizes the risk of introducing bacteria that can cause ventriculitis or meningitis, which are serious complications.

Replacing the catheter daily is not a standard or safe practice and would actually raise infection risk by increasing manipulations of the system. Prophylactic antibiotics are not routinely indicated for all patients with an intraventricular catheter and can lead to resistance or adverse effects. Wearing sterile gloves only during dressing changes isn’t enough because all interactions with the system—measurement, irrigation, securement, and connections—must be performed aseptically to protect the CNS from infection.