Infectious complications during peripheral intravenous therapy with Teflon catheters: a prospective study.
Infectious complication rates and associated risk factors occurring during peripheral intravenous therapy with Teflon catheters were determined during a prospective study of 286 cannula insertions. Suppurative phlebitis, cannula-related sepsis or suspected sepsis did not occur. Semiquantitative cannula cultures revealed a colonization rate of 10.4% (12 of 115). Coagulase-negative nonadherent Staphylococcus was the most common colonizing organism occurring in 10 of 12 positive catheters. Alpha Streptococcus and adherent coagulase-negative Staphylococcus colonized the remaining catheters. Colonization was not related to the rate of phlebitis, extravasation or cannulation time. No patient- or catheter-related factors increased the risk of colonization. In children in a general pediatric ward the risk of catheter colonization and subsequent sepsis should not be used as reasons for routinely removing complication-free peripheral Teflon catheters at 72 hours.
Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Milwaukee 53233.
J S
JS
Garland
D B
DB
Nelson
T E
TE
Cheah
H H
HH
Hennes
T M
TM
Johnson
D000293:Adolescent; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D002404:Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000209:etiology; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000209:etiology
D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene