Peripheral venous catheter fixation
Abstract:
Objective: The study was carried out to compare the effect of transparent covers and elastic fixation bands used in peripheral venous catheter fixation on microbiological colonisation in patients in intensive care.
Method: This experimental randomised controlled study was conducted with patients treated in the Anesthesia and Reanimation Unit (an intensive care unit, ICU) of a training and research hospital in Istanbul between January 2019 and May 2020. Participants were divided into two equal groups: intervention: (catheters fixed with a transparent cover) and control (catheters fixed with an elastic fixation band) by the block randomisation method (CONSORT). After 72 hours, the catheters were removed aseptically and cultures were collected from the catheter tips. The roll plate technique was used and colony growth of ≥15 colony forming units was considered significant. The data of the study were collected using the ‘Patient Information Form’ and ‘Catheter Follow-up and Result Form’.
Results: A total of 60 patients were included in the study (30 in each group). It was found that the effect of the microbiological colony-forming microorganism species, and the area of catheter insertion on microbiological colonisation, were not statistically significantly different between the two groups (p>0.05).
Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that both fixation methods can be used with effective nursing care in the treatment of patients in ICUs.
Reference:
Orhan BN, Goktas S. Use of transparent cover and elastic fixation band in patients with peripheral venous catheter: a comparison of microbiological colonisation. J Wound Care. 2025 Apr 2;34(Sup4a):xlix-lvi. doi: 10.12968/jowc.2022.0057. PMID: 40228015.