American journal of infection control
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Am J Infect Control · Jun 1988
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialBacterial colonization and phlebitis-associated risk with transparent polyurethane film for peripheral intravenous site dressings.
Previous studies of various brands of polyurethane dressings have noted differences in the rates of catheter colonization. We compared Bioclusive transparent polyurethane (TP) dressing with a cotton gauze (CG) dressing on peripheral intravenous (IV) access sites for the incidence of phlebitis, catheter tip colonization, skin colonization, and catheter-related bacteremia. The study, involving 598 ward patients, was case controlled, prospective, and randomized for a period of 4 months. ⋯ Cultures of specimens from the skin and catheter tips of the majority of patients (91%) showed no growth. An association was found between those patients with greater than 15 CFU isolated from catheter tips and those with phlebitis (p = 0.022). No documented catheter-related bacteremia occurred in either study group.