Infection
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Phlebitis rate and time kinetics of short peripheral intravenous catheters.
An observational prospective cohort study was carried out on complication rates and time kinetics of phlebitis caused by short peripheral intravenous catheters (PIVCs) in inpatients on 15 hospital wards in four hospitals in Cologne, Germany. ⋯ Linear time kinetics of PIVC phlebitis do not support CDC recommendations for an elective PIVC change after 72 hours, provided daily monitoring of the insertion site occurs.