Infusion thrombophlebitis--histological and bacteriological study

In a study conducted over a four year period, 99 developed thrombophlebitis of the total of 560 intravenous infusions under similar infusion conditions. In all the patients who developed phlebitis, fluid from the bottle, first 5 ml. of fluid from the infusion set after removing the drip and the needle itself were subjected to bacteriological study. Only in two cases the culture was positive, indicating it was a non-bacterial inflammation. The vein was subjected for histopathology after obtaining a small segment. Histopathology showed thrombus in the lumen of the vein in the majority of the cases, destruction of endothelial lining with pyknosis of nuclei and leucocyte infiltration in the media.