Multi-centre research surveillance project to reduce infections/phlebitis associated with peripheral vascular catheters

• DOI: 10.1053/jhin.2000.0831
• Publication Date: 2002-09-19T09:56:27Z
• Authors: E.T Curran; J.E Coia; H Gilmour; S McNamee; J Hood
• Keywords: Bloodstream infection

A surveillance project was undertaken on 37 surgical wards by infection control nurses with the aim of reducing phlebitis/infections associated with peripheral vascular catheters, and to identify risk factors. Data on 2934 catheters in situ longer than 24h was collected in two separate surveillance periods and results were fed back after each surveillance period. Four significant risk factors were identified; what the catheters were used for, the duration the catheters were in situ, the surveillance period (the first surveillance period had a higher phlebitis rate than the second) and whether an infusion pump was used. Logistic regression analysis showed that each of these had a significant effect after adjusting for the effects of the other three factors.