We had been tracking phlebitis monthly at our facility. We would assess a unit at a time and look at all the vascular access device sites for s/s phlebitis and or infilitration. We also assessed iv tubing to ensure they were dated and changed correctly. It seems we could miss potential problems. I am not looking for trouble as our phlebitis rate is low, around 2-3%. I just want to be sure we are capturing the information as effectively as possible. I am curious what other facilities are doing.
Thanks for your input!
What you are doing is a point prevalence study which gathers data to give a snapshot for that date and time. You can only derive a percentage of VADs with the specific complication at that time. This is the most common method for data collection on short peripheral catheters. Many facilities do not even collect this type of data. If done over successive months you can identify trends.
Another method is collecting data on all VADs from insertion to removal. This will give you demoninator data so that a true incidence rate (2 events per 1000 device days) can be calculated. The problem with using this method for short peripheral catheters is that there are far too many catheter placed and collecting data on all days of dwell for all catheters is labor and time intensive. This is the method that must be used if your hospital participates in the NHSN from CDC for CLABSI data. I am not aware of anyone that is using this method for short peripheral catheters though. Lynn
Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RN, BC, CRNI
Lynn Hadaway Associates, Inc.
126 Main Street, PO Box 10
Milner, GA 30257
Website http://www.hadawayassociates.com
Office Phone 770-358-7861
Thanks Lynn,
We are looking at short pivs as well as any VAD. It does only give us a snapshot and I wasn't sure if there was a better way. We do track all PICC lines from insertion to removal or d/c from hospital. The pivs would be much harder to track 100% of them. I just wasn't sure if other facilities were doing more successfully.
Molly Black, RN, CRNI, VA-BC
Vascular Access Nurse
IU Health Bloomington Hospital