Central Lines

preventing hospital-acquired infections

Use of BIOPATCH® for central line dressings at MGH

BIOPATCH® is a chlorhexidine (CHG) impregnated sponge dressing that is placed at the insertion site of central venous catheters.  It provides continual antisepsis over 7 days, thus preventing skin organisms from entering at the insertion site and tracking extraluminally up the catheter and into the bloodstream.  Although BIOPATCH® has been used for PICC care for quite some time at MGH, its use was extended to all central line catheters in the latter part of 2013, including implanted ports accessed for more than 24 hours.

Additional Resources

BIOPATCH® FAQ

BIOPATCH® Disk is PROVEN
to reduce CRBSI.
Learn More

BIOPATCH® Outpatient
Settings FAQ

Use with Implanted Ports
Learn More

What is BIOPATCH®?

PROVEN to reduce the incidence of CRBSI by 60%, and local infections by 44%.1
Learn More

Chlorhexidine-Impregnated
Sponge Research

Chlorhexidine-Impregnated Sponges and Less Frequent Dressing Changes for Prevention of Catheter-Related Infections in Critically Ill Adults. A Randomized Controlled Trial
Learn More

How to use BIOPATCH®

How to apply and remove BIOPATCH® Disk
Learn More

Visualization of the
Insertion Site

Local signs of infection with images.
Learn More
Last Updated: 11/17/2020