FREE NEJM E-TOC    HOME   |   SUBSCRIBE   |   CURRENT ISSUE   |   PAST ISSUES   |   COLLECTIONS   |   Search Term  Advanced Search

Sign in | Get NEJM's E-Mail Table of Contents — Free | Subscribe

Previous Volume 312:78-82 January 10, 1985 Number 2 Next

	Add to Personal Archive Add to Citation Manager Notify a Friend E-mail When Cited PubMed Citation

Abstract

We carried out a double-blind prospective study of the effect of a filter on the incidence of phlebitis associated with intravenous infusion in 541 patients. A total of 277 patients received infusions through intravenous sets with 0.22-micron IVEX-HP filters, and 264 received infusions without filters. Each infusion was evaluated daily for a maximum of three days. The incidence of phlebitis on Days 1, 2, and 3 of the study was 14.3, 31.1, and 27 per cent for patients receiving infusions without filters and 6.8, 9.7, and 11.3 per cent for those receiving infusions through the filters (P less than 0.001). Thus, the incidence was reduced by approximately two thirds in the patients who received infusions through the IVEX-HP filters. We conclude that infusion-related phlebitis is a pervasive problem in hospitalized patients, and that it is usually caused by microparticulate components that are present in the infusion fluids and can be removed by in-line filtration.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Maki, D. G (2008). Improving the safety of peripheral intravenous catheters. BMJ 337: a630-a630 [Full Text]  
• Rottenberg, Y., Fridlender, Z. G (2004). Recurrent Infusion Phlebitis Induced by Cyclosporine. The Annals of Pharmacotherapy 38: 2071-2073 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Lanbeck, P., Odenholt, I., Riesbeck, K. (2004). Dicloxacillin and erythromycin at high concentrations increase ICAM-1 expression by endothelial cells: a possible factor in the pathogenesis of infusion phlebitis. J Antimicrob Chemother 53: 174-179 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• O'Grady, N. P., Alexander, M., Dellinger, E. P., Gerberding, J. L., Heard, S. O., Maki, D. G., Masur, H., McCormick, R. D., Mermel, L. A., Pearson, M. L., Raad, I. I., Randolph, A., Weinstein, R. A. (2002). Guidelines for the Prevention of Intravascular Catheter-Related Infections. Pediatrics 110: e51-51 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• LEHR, H.-A., BRUNNER, J., RANGOONWALA, R., JAMES KIRKPATRICK, C. (2002). Particulate Matter Contamination of Intravenous Antibiotics Aggravates Loss of Functional Capillary Density in Postischemic Striated Muscle. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 165: 514-520 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Mermel, L. A. (2000). Prevention of Intravascular Catheter-Related Infections. ANN INTERN MED 132: 391-402 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Monreal, M., Quilez, F., Rey-Joly, C., Rodriguez, S., Sopena, N., Neira, C., Roca, J. (1999). Infusion Phlebitis in Patients With Acute Pneumonia: A Prospective Study. Chest 115: 1576-1580 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Mckinnon, B. T. (1996). FDA Safety Alert: Hazards of Precipitation Associated With Parenteral Nutrition. Nutr Clin Pract 11: 59-65 [Abstract]  
• Seneff, M. G. (1987). Central Venous Catheterization: A Comprehensive Review, Part I. J Intensive Care Med 2: 163-175 [Abstract]