• Donna Gillies, Libba O'Riordan, Margaret Wallen, Karen Rankin, Anne Morrison, and Sue Nagy.
• The Research Development Unit, The School of Nursing, Family and Community Health, The University of Western Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
• Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2004 Mar 1; 25 (3): 240-50.

ObjectiveTo determine the optimal time interval for the routine replacement of intravenous administration sets when crystalloids or parenteral nutrition are administered via a central or peripheral catheter in an acute care setting.DesignSystematic review of all randomized or systematically allocated controlled trials addressing the frequency of replacing intravenous administration sets.MethodsThe Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (June 2001) and the Ovid databases (Medline, CINAHL, and CancerLit-July 2001) were searched. Bibliographies, relevant conference proceedings, and any product information were also checked for references.ResultsEighteen studies were selected for review. The 12 included studies were separated into 3 intravenous administration set change comparisons: 24 hours versus 48 hours or more; 48 hours versus 72 hours or more; and 72 hours versus 96 hours or more. There was good evidence that changing intravenous administration sets every 72 hours or more does not increase the risk of infusate-related bloodstream infection (BSI) in patients with central or peripheral catheters and a fair level of evidence that it does not increase the risk of catheter-related BSI. There were insufficient data regarding the incidence of BSI among patients receiving parenteral nutrition, particularly lipid-containing parenteral nutrition.ConclusionsIt appears that intravenous administration sets containing crystalloids can be changed in patients with central or peripheral catheters every 72 hours or more without increasing the risk of BSI. However, it is not possible to conclude that intravenous administration sets containing parenteral nutrition, particularly lipid-containing parenteral nutrition, can be changed at this interval.

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