Question of The Day

Which intervention is most appropriate to reduce the risk of infection associated with a peripheral intravenous catheter?

A. Mark each IV bag with a pen to clarify its contents

B. Only disconnect tubing to reposition the client

C. Remove the IV as soon as feasible

D. Replace the administration set every 24 hours.

Post your answer in the comment section.

Correct Answer: C.
Remove the IV as soon as feasible
The nurse should remove the IV as soon as it is no longer needed, rather than keeping it in place longer than necessary. The longer an IV is in place, the greater the risk of infection. Catheter related infections can be local or systemic and most commonly occur by introduction of skin microorganisms through the cutaneous catheter tract.

Incorrect Answers:
A. Marking the bag with a pen or marker could cause the ink to soak through the bag and contaminate the fluid.

B. The IV tubing should be disconnected as little as possible to avoid contamination; however, it is not necessary to disconnect each time the client is repositioned.

D. The administration set should be replaced no more frequently than every 72 hours. .

Vital Concept:
Intravascular catheters are associated with local and systemic infections. The most common route of infection for peripheral IV catheters is migration of microorganisms on the skin at the insertion site into the catheter tract with colonization of the catheter tip. Studies have shown that the incidence of thrombophlebitis and bacterial colonization of catheters increases when catheters are left in place >72 hours. Peripheral IV catheters should be discontinued as soon as possible. If the catheter cannot be discontinued, the catheter site should be rotated at 72–96-hour intervals to reduce the risk for infection.