PREVENTION OF HEALTHCARE-ASSOCIATED INFECTIONS IN PERIPHERAL VENOUS CATHETER USE: INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS AND ASSESSMENT OF NURSES’ PROFESSIONAL AWARENESS

Abstract

Introduction. According to the World Health Organization, every tenth patient becomes infected while receiving medical care in hospital. The use of a peripheral intravenous catheter is a common invasive practice in medical settings, aimed at speeding up a person’s treatment and recovery, as well as increasing their comfort due to the need for frequent intravenous medication. However, most commonly, catheter-associated infection is associated with the placement, use, and subsequent care of the catheter. The occurrence of phlebitis during vein catheterization is dangerous due to the possibility of further formation of blood clots and blocking of the vein lumen, which in turn leads to an increase in the cost of treatment and the patient’s stay in the hospital. 

The aim of the study – to study the activities of a nurse related to the placement and care of peripheral venous catheters and her participation in the prevention of infections associated with the provision of medical care.

The main part. The infections due to the peripheral intravenous catheter can clinically occur in the form of local complications (including phlebitis) or generalized blood infection, better known in the domestic scientific and educational literature as “catheter-associated blood infection” or “catheter-associated blood flow infection”. Catheter-related phlebitis – is an inflammatory reaction of the inner layer of veins caused by infusion. The most frequent route of infection of vascular catheters is extraluminal. Colonization can occur as a result of poor-quality skin treatment at the site of management, violation of asepsis rules during placement of the peripheral catheter, attachment of normal skin microflora when needles and catheter are inserted through the epidermis, poor-quality application of a bandage to the catheter at the puncture site. Medical professionals often make mistakes when handling peripheral venous catheters. The experience of European countries, the USA, and Japan in the prevention of infections related to the provision of medical care, in particular in the prevention of post-injection phlebitis, was studied. The cross-sectional epidemiological study included a survey of 36 medical professionals (nurses) who work with peripheral intravenous catheters.

Conclusions. The prevention of infections associated with peripheral intravenous catheters depends to a large extent on the professionalism of medical professionals, on the correct catheterization and care of the catheter. Adherence to modern recommendations for conducting venous access helps to reduce the risk of catheter-associated infections.