title: Bacterial colonization and phlebitis-associated risk with transparent polyurethane film for peripheral intravenous site dressings.
abstract: Previous studies of various brands of polyurethane dressings have noted differences in the rates of catheter colonization. We compared Bioclusive transparent polyurethane (TP) dressing with a cotton gauze (CG) dressing on peripheral intravenous (IV) access sites for the incidence of phlebitis, catheter tip colonization, skin colonization, and catheter-related bacteremia. The study, involving 598 ward patients, was case controlled, prospective, and randomized for a period of 4 months. Each patient was entered into the study only once, and all dressings were applied by a member of the IV therapy team. No significant difference was seen for phlebitis rate (TP: 9.8% vs. CG: 7.6%) or catheter tip colonization, defined as greater than 15 colony forming units (CFU) (5.7% vs. 4.4%) by a semiquantitative technique. Cultures of specimens from the skin and catheter tips of the majority of patients (91%) showed no growth. An association was found between those patients with greater than 15 CFU isolated from catheter tips and those with phlebitis (p = 0.022). No documented catheter-related bacteremia occurred in either study group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Virginia Medical Center, Charlottesville 22908.
authors.forename: K K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Western
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Kaiser
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Wenzel
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Groschel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001419:Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001458:Bandages; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010689:Phlebitis / Q000209:etiology*; D011140:Polyurethanes; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011897:Random Allocation; D012307:Risk Factors; D018805:Sepsis / Q000209:etiology; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D011140:Polyurethanes