Practices Related to Peripheral Venous Catheters are Still Poor

The frequent use of peripheral venous catheters (PVC) generates a significant number of infections. Since 2005, a standard recommendation edited by the French Society for Hospital Hygiene has been promoted in healthcare facilities (HCF). In 2009, the French Group for Evaluation of Practices concerning Hospital Hygiene (GREPHH) has provided an evaluation tool for PVC practices. Researchers in France sought to evaluate practices during utilization of PVC in healthcare facilities.

In 2009, the five regional coordinating centers for nosocomial infection control (CCLIN) launched an observational practice study based on the GREPHH evaluation tool in all volunteer healthcare facilities in France. Evaluation criteria included protocol of cares, practices of insertion and handling of venous lines, traceability and duration of the device. Proportion of practice breaches were analyzed considering category of hospital and specialty.

Verjat-Trannoy et al. report that the study was conducted in 920 healthcare facilities and 8254 clinical wards. Standard protocols were present in 98 percent of the healthcare facilities: 34 percent of them complied with the 10 quality standards defined. The recommended four times procedure represents 46 percent of adult skin preparation. Gloves were used just before insertion in 63 percent of PVC. The injection site was correctly disinfected in 60 percent of venous lines handlings. The insertion date was traced for 79 percent of the PVC, better than the daily clinical monitoring (70 percent). The duration period was maximum four days for 92 percent of the adult PVC.

The researchers conclude that this study highlighted conformity to standard practices of PVC utilization is still poor and should merit more promotion efforts, especially for skin disinfection. Their research was presented at the International Conference on Prevention & Infection Control (ICPIC) held in Geneva, Switzerland, June 29-July 2, 2011.

Reference: D Verjat-Trannoy, D Thillard, F Daniel, M Aupée, C Laland, L Simon, M Giard, C Rabaud and P Astagneau. Assessment practices of peripheral venous catheters use: results of a multicentre observational study in France in 2010. Presentation at International Conference on Prevention & Infection Control (ICPIC). BMC Proceedings 2011, 5(Suppl 6):P53doi:10.1186/1753-6561-5-S6-P53