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Risk of Infection with Scalp Vein Needles — A Prospective Study
Author(s) -
Keogh Edward J.,
Hopkins Barry E.
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.596
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-5994
pISSN - 0004-8291
DOI - 10.1111/j.1445-5994.1973.tb03111.x
Subject(s) - medicine , scalp , thrombophlebitis , vein , intensive care unit , surgery , anesthesia , thrombosis , intensive care medicine
Summary: One hundred scalp vein needle sets were divided into three parts (spigot end, tubing and needle) between 3 and 120 hours following insertion into the peripheral veins of intensive care unit patients. Each was separately cultured, 23% of needles, 16% of spigots and 7% of tubing components grew organisms, the majority of which were commensals. Although 33% of needles were contaminated with bacteria this is less than with other intravenous devices and thrombophlebitis occurred with only three patients. The frequency of bacterial contamination of intravenous infusion apparatus may be considerably reduced by using these devices where practicable.