Abstract
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). Coagu-lase-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.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 918-921 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal |
| Volume | 6 |
| Issue number | 10 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Oct 1987 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
- Microbiology (medical)
- Infectious Diseases