Reducing infusion phlebitis in Singapore hospitals using extended life end-line filters

Two studies were conducted to investigate the impact of the 4-day end-line filter used to treat infusion phlebitis in Singapore. In the first study, conducted in 1997, 200 patients received IV antibiotics and chemotherapy. In the first 100 patients, end-line filters were not used during the infusions. This resulted in a phlebitis rate of 31%. In the second group of 100 patients, end-line filtration was used, resulting in a phlebitis rate of 5%. In 2000, a second study was conducted, measuring the outcome of end-line filtration versus no end-line filtration use. In this case, phlebitis developed in 35% of 100 patients receiving antibiotics, as compared with 8% of 394 patients with the use of 4-day end-line filtration. These are the first such studies performed in Southeast Asia that highlight identical benefits, namely the reduction of phlebitis by elimination of particulates, in two separate patient populations. End-line filtration, when used to deliver antibiotics and chemotherapy, will result in significantly fewer cases of infusion phlebitis, reduce the cost of delivering IV antibiotics and chemotherapy, increase nursing efficiency, and ultimately improve patient comfort.