Nationwide study on the use of intravascular catheters in internal medicine departments. Issue 2 (June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Guembe, M.; Pérez-Granda, M.J.; Capdevila, J.A.; Barberán, J.; Pinilla, B.; Martín-Rabadán, P.; Bouza, E.
• Is Part Of: Journal of hospital infection. Volume 90:Issue 2(2015)
• Page Start: 135
• Page End: 141
• Publication Date: 2015-06
• Subjects: Catheter care and management -- Internal medicine departments -- Intravascular lines -- Surveillance; Cross infection -- Periodicals; Cross infection -- Prevention -- Periodicals; Nosocomial infections -- Periodicals; Nosocomial infections -- Prevention -- Periodicals; Cross Infection -- Periodicals; Cross Infection -- prevention & control -- Periodicals; Infection Control -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 614.44
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2015.01.024
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0195-6701

Abstract

Summary: Background: The use of intravascular catheters (IVCs) in intensive care units (ICUs) has been well assessed in recent years. However, a high proportion of these devices are placed in patients outside the ICU, particularly in internal medicine departments (IMDs), where data on the quality of care are scarce. Aim: To assess the use and management of IVCs in IMDs in Spain. Methods: We performed a point prevalence study of all adult inpatients on 47 IMDs from hospitals of different sizes on one day in June 2013. A local co-ordinator was appointed to assess patients and collect data from each site. Findings: Out of the 2080 adult patients hospitalized on the study day, 1703 (81.9%) had one or more IVCs (95.4% of which were peripheral devices). Infection was detected at the insertion site in 92 catheters (5.0%); 87 patients (5.2%) had signs of sepsis, but only one case was considered to be catheter-related. The local co-ordinators estimated that 19% of the catheters in place were no longer necessary. A daily record of the need for a catheter was available in only 40.6% of cases. Conclusion: Our study shows clear opportunities for improvement regarding catheter use and care in Spanish IMDs. Strategies similar to those applied in ICUs should be implemented in IMDs.