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Evidence summaries

Optimal Timing for Intravenous Administration Set Replacement

It appears that administration sets that do not contain lipids, blood or blood products may be left in place for intervals of up to 96 hours without increasing the incidence of infection. Level of evidence: "B"

A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included 13 studies with a total of 4 783 subjects receiving parenteral nutrition (lipid and non-lipid containing solutions) or infusions (excluding blood) in hospital via a central or peripheral catheter. The incidence of catheter-related bloodstream infection (BSI) was markedly higher than the incidence of infusate-related BSI (4% and 1.2% respectively). Decreasing the frequency of administration set changes from 24 hours to intervals of at least 48 hours, from 48 hours to at least 72 hours, or from 72 hours to at least 96 hours, did not appear to increase the incidence of catheter colonisation or catheter-related BSI.

Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by imprecise results (limited study size for each comparison).

References

  • Gillies D, O'Riordan L, Wallen M, Morrison A, Rankin K, Nagy S. Optimal timing for intravenous administration set replacement. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2005 Oct 19;(4):CD003588. [PubMed]

Primary/Secondary Keywords