IVUPDATE from IVTEAM
Heparin versus saline IV flush comparative study
“This nurse-led research study investigates the comparative effectiveness of heparin versus 0.9% sodium chloride locking in blood cancer patients with peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs). Subjects were randomly assigned to receive either heparin or 0.9% sodium chloride locking for up to 7 days” Denke et al (2025).
Review of catheter-related thrombosis – Full Text
“This article provides a detailed review of CRT, focusing on clinical features, diagnostic methods, and treatment strategies while addressing specific challenges in managing pacemaker and hemodialysis catheter-related thrombosis” López-Rubio et al (2024).
Peripheral intravenous catheter cannulation in older patients
“Age-related physiological changes affect various aspects of peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) cannulation. However, the characteristics of PIVCs, especially in older patients, have been poorly investigated” Kitada et al (2025).
Virtual chest radiographs for central venous catheter training
“Virtual chest radiographs created from computed tomography images were useful for clarifying radiographic findings for differentiating central venous and misplaced arterial lines and for training radiologists” Morita et al (2024).
Chemotherapy safety among oncology nurses
“The purpose of this research is to describe the factors affecting hazardous chemotherapy exposure and strategies to foster chemotherapy safety among oncology nurses” Abu-Alhaija et al (2025).
Peripheral intravenous catheter maintenance questionnaire
“The aims of this study were to develop a questionnaire on peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) maintenance, evaluate its content validity, and assess factors influencing the level of knowledge of nursing professionals regarding best practices” Doll et al (2025).
Untoward impact of misdiagnosed penicillin allergy – Full Text
“This review seeks to present the clinical phenotypes with which a beta-lactam allergy may present, define the untoward effects that a fictitious penicillin allergy label may confer to a patient, and propose clinical investigational prompts for nurses and other allied health professionals when interacting with a patient that has a penicillin or other beta-lactam allergy in their medical history” Johannesmeyer (2025).
Infusion pump flow accuracy systematic review
“Intravenous pumps (IVPs) deliver IV medications to millions of acute care patients each year and result in many adverse events reported to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Although the use of IVPs has improved overall safety, there are still high rates of error that risk the safety of all patients, especially those of advanced age and those suffering from critical illness” Blake (2025).
OSCE competency in planning and managing infusion therapy
“Thus, the study successfully developed evidence-based OSCE for infusion therapy, showing strong expert consensus. Testing with nurses yielded positive outcomes, affirming the effectiveness of the educational practice’s design and structure” Meszaros et al (2025).
CLABSI risk factors in COVID-19 patients – Full Text
“Risk factors for bloodstream infection in patients with COVID-19 in the intensive care unit (ICU) remain unclear. The purpose of this systematic review was to study the risk factors for BSI in patients admitted to ICUs for COVID-19” Wang et al (2025).
Implantable port outcomes when inserted by anesthesiologists – Full Text
“The implantation of TIVADs by anesthesiologists in cancer patients at the National Cancer Institute was predominantly successful and safe, exhibiting a low complication rate. The findings reinforce the efficacy and safety of the employed technique, exceeding the outcomes reported in existing medical literature” Valls et al (2024).
Impact of voluntary practice on OSCE outcome – Full Text
“We conclude that the anticipation of the complex OSCE is effective in motivating students to engage with a wide range of competencies crucial to the medical profession, and that this engagement has positive effects on exam success” Tsikas et al (2024).
Intraosseous and intravenous access during adult cardiac arrest systematic review – Full Text
“Initial vascular access attempts via the intraosseous, compared with intravenous, route in adult cardiac arrest did not improve 30-day survival and may reduce the odds of a sustained return of spontaneous circulation” Couper et al (2024).
Workflow for treating inadvertent arterial CVC placement – Full Text
“Any suspected arterial misplacement should be immediately reported to the Patient Safety Department to clarify all authorities and instructions. One aspect of this process is the workflow. In our experience, misplaced catheters in arteries are a common example of a medical incident related to central venous catheter insertion” Tokumine et al (2024).
Standardizing blood culture collection
“CDC developed this quality measure to promote the standardization of blood culture best practices and improve laboratory diagnosis of bloodstream infections nationally. This special report will emphasize the importance of standardizing blood culture collection and describe the need for a national patient safety measure, new quality tools, and next steps” Bunn and Cornish (2025).
Hemodialysis catheter lock solution comparison
“Our study concluded that heparin locking is not superior to normal saline locking in terms of catheter dysfunction. We aimed to emphasize that the technique of catheter locking is more important than the type of lock solution used” Ergül et al (2025).
Central venous catheter tip positioning in children – Full Text
“Children who need to have major surgery or are critically ill often require the insertion of a central venous catheter (CVC). To avoid serious complications, it is important to correctly position the CVC tip at the junction of the distal superior vena cava and the right atrium (cavoatrial junction)” Thomsen et al (2025).
Impact of jugular vein insertion site for central venous catheter placement
“Initiating CVC placement in the right IJV in critically ill patients is associated with a higher risk of hemodialysis catheter re-catheterization related to the use of veins other than the right IJV for hemodialysis catheter placement and an increased need for venous access interventions compared to placement in the left IJV” Gharaibeh et al (2025).
Review of sharps handling in the operating room
“The goals of this study are to analyze OR nurses and surgical technologists’ experiences and their current level of sharps education. An anonymous survey was sent to a single institution asking whether the participants have been stuck by a sharp, when they were stuck, and their perspective on sharp safety” Vesely et al (2024).
First attempt intravenous access success
“Patients’ vein characteristics and nurses’ confidence in first attempt intravenous access success were predominant characteristics of intravenous access success” Callahan et al (2024).
Peripheral IV catheter-associated injuries in neonates
“However, PIV catheters are not without risks and complications such as infiltration and extravasation. While prevention of these complications remains a persistent challenge, a variety of treatment options may be used to reduce or avoid permanent harm. This review summarizes the range of strategies aimed at reducing PIV catheter-associated injuries and their complications” Patel et al (2025).
CLABSI rate during needlefree connector and prefilled saline flush shortage – Full Text
“We aimed to discuss our experience of a higher incidence of catheter-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) during the needle-free connector (NFC) and single-use prefilled flushing syringe (PFS) shortage” Devrim et al (2024).