Incidence of phlebitis in patients with peripheral intravenous catheters: The influence of some risk factors

Abstract

Objective: To identify the incidence of phlebitis and the risk factors which contribute to its development in patients with peripheral intravenous catheters.

Design: Prospective observational study.

Setting: Medical ward of a central hospital in Portugal.

Subjects: Patients with peripheral intravenous catheters hospitalised in the medical ward.

Interventions: Nurses observed the peripheral intravenous (IV) catheterisation site daily. If there were complications, the catheter was replaced, and both the development of phlebitis and the procedure were recorded.

Results: A total of 1,244 catheters were observed, and 317 were removed/inserted. Incidence of phlebitis was 11.09%. A multivariate analysis of risk factors for phlebitis showed patients with KCI (OR: 2.112; CI: 1.124‑3.969), who were on antibiotics (OR: 1.877; CI: 1.141‑3.088) and who had a catheter in an upper limb (OR: 0.31; CI: 0.111‑0.938) were at higher risk for phlebitis.

Conclusion: Despite the patients’ profile (high mean age and high level of dependency), the risk factors are related to the use of prescribed medication and the catheterised limb. Although these findings show the development of phlebitis is not solely related to nurses’ practices, the authors believe these professionals can have an important impact on the prevention of phlebitis. The results show the accurate selection of the catheterisation site, which relies entirely on the nursing intervention, is an important factor for phlebitis.