The complications of intravenous cannulae incorporating a valved injection side port

In a series of 519 intravenous cannulae with valved injection side-ports the incidence of cannula-related local inflammation was 25.2% and bacteraemia 0.2%. Severe local inflammation was associated with a longer mean duration of cannulation, 59.4 v. 81.4 h (P = less than 0.05). There was no significant association between the presence of local inflammation and microbial colonization of either the intravascular segment of the cannula, the adjacent skin, or the side-port. The data suggest that colonization of the cannulae was usually secondary to prior skin colonization. Side-port colonization did not predispose to cannula colonization. Organisms colonizing the side-port were biologically different and were possibly derived from the skin of medical attendants. In the final 157 patients, randomized to receive either isopropyl alcohol or 0.5% chlorhexidine in 70% spirit skin preparation, there was no difference in the incidence of either local inflammation or microbial colonization.