title: Prospective surveillance of phlebitis associated with peripheral intravenous catheters.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Guidelines have been published for prevention of phlebitis associated with peripheral intravenous catheters (IVC), but this complication continues to occur. We sought to determine the rate of phlebitis associated with peripheral IVCs to identify predictors for phlebitis and to isolate pathogenic bacteria from phlebitic catheter tips.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine-point prevalence studies were conducted during the years 1996-2003 of all hospitalized patients with a peripheral IVC. During the last 3 surveys, conducted in 2003, phlebitic lines were removed, and, for each line, 1 to 2 nonphlebitic lines, in place for 48 to 72 hours, were removed and cultured as controls. In between these surveys, findings and guidelines for improvement were distributed to the staff.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During these surveys, 40% +/- 8% of hospitalized patients had a peripheral IVC. The rate of peripheral IVC-associated phlebitis decreased from 12.7% (20/157) in 1998 to 2.6% (5/189) in 2003 (P < .01). Factors significantly associated with phlebitis included pain (P < .001), presence of the catheter for longer than 3 days (P < .05), and cleanliness of the dressing (P < .01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The rate of phlebitis associated with peripheral intravenous catheters decreased significantly throughout the study period. The identification of predictors for phlebitis and the dissemination of this information in an educational drive may have contributed to this improvement.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Disease Unit, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Tal
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Malach
authors.forename: Ziona
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Jerassy
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rudensky
authors.forename: Yechiel
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Schlesinger
authors.forename: Etty
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Broide
authors.forename: Oded
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Olsha
authors.forename: Amos M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Yinnon
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Raveh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010689:Phlebitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors