Effects of dressing type and change interval on intravenous therapy complication rates

Using a prospective study design, we compared the incidence rates in 807 patients of phlebitis, malfunction, cellulitis, and septicemia for short-term Teflon catheters with dressings changed every 24 or 48 hr, or using a polyurethane dressing changed every 48 hr. The study utilized either a standard dressing, which consisted of a small piece of dry sterile gauze, or a polyurethane dressing. The risk of phlebitis at 48 hr was significantly greater in the daily dressing change group as compared with the group that had dressings changed every 48 hr or with those using the polyurethane dressing (p less than 0.05). At 72 hr, there was also significantly less phlebitis using the standard dressing changed every 48 hr (p less than 0.05). The risk of malfunction was significantly greater at 24 hr for the polyurethane dressing compared with the other two groups (p less than 0.05). These findings indicate that adoption of a 48-hr dressing change interval using a standard dressing could result in less phlebitis and significant cost savings to a university-based institution.