• Reference Number: HEY1314/2025
• Departments: Renal Service
• Last Updated: 31 December 2025

Why do I need this?

Your dialysis line is extremely important for giving you access to the haemodialysis machine. They are plastic and can carry germs into your blood stream. Cleaning your skin and nose with these preparations can reduce your carriage of germs that can infect your line. This therefore reduces your risk of developing complications such as sepsis (blood stream infection).

How do I use the body wash?

In the shower or bath, wash your body and hair with the wash instead of shower gel/soap. Pay special attention to washing the upper chest and neck area, your underarms, your groin, and the area around your bottom.

How do I use the nasal ointment?

Apply a small amount of the ointment (about the size of a match head) on a cotton bud or little finger and apply it to the inside of each nostril. You should then press the sides of your nose together to close your nostrils and spread the ointment around inside. Make sure you wash your hands before and after applying the ointment and avoid contact with your eyes.

What if I get side effects from these treatments?

If you develop irritation or any rash with the nasal ointment or body wash, stop its use immediately, rinse the affect areas with water, and contact your local renal unit as we have alternative treatments that you can use instead.

When do I need to use these treatments?

You may be asked to use the body wash and nasal ointment directly before an urgent line insertion if you have come into hospital unwell with a kidney problem. You will be instructed by the doctors and nurses regarding the duration of the treatment. Whilst you are in hospital with a temporary dialysis line it is very important to continue the body wash once a day, and the nasal ointment three times a day to reduce the risk of infection and sepsis.

If you are coming in for a planned outpatient procedure such as a line insertion, we will provide you with the wash and nasal cream ahead of time. You should wash yourself with this as described above the night before the procedure, and on the morning of the procedure, too.

General Advice and Consent

Most of your questions should have been answered by this leaflet, but remember that this is only a starting point for discussion with the healthcare team.

Consent to treatment

Before any doctor, nurse or therapist examines or treats you, they must seek your consent or permission. In order to make a decision, you need to have information from health professionals about the treatment or investigation which is being offered to you. You should always ask them more questions if you do not understand or if you want more information.

The information you receive should be about your condition, the alternatives available to you, and whether it carries risks as well as the benefits. What is important is that your consent is genuine or valid. That means:

• you must be able to give your consent
• you must be given enough information to enable you to make a decision
• you must be acting under your own free will and not under the strong influence of another person

Information about you

We collect and use your information to provide you with care and treatment. As part of your care, information about you will be shared between members of a healthcare team, some of whom you may not meet. Your information may also be used to help train staff, to check the quality of our care, to manage and plan the health service, and to help with research. Wherever possible we use anonymous data.

We may pass on relevant information to other health organisations that provide you with care. All information is treated as strictly confidential and is not given to anyone who does not need it. If you have any concerns please ask your doctor, or the person caring for you.

Under the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018 we are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of any information we hold about you. For further information visit the following page: Confidential Information about You.

If you or your carer needs information about your health and wellbeing and about your care and treatment in a different format, such as large print, braille or audio, due to disability, impairment or sensory loss, please advise a member of staff and this can be arranged.