Independent predictors of phlebitis in peripheral intravenous catheters in a cohort of hospitalized adults

Authors

  • Lyda Rojas Fundación Cardiovascular de Colombia
  • Dora Inés Parra Universidad Industrial de Santander, Colombia
  • Natalia Esquivel Garzon Universidad Industrial de Santander, Colombia
  • Fabio Alberto Camargo-Figuera Universidad Industrial de Santander, Colombia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14482/sun.41.02.842.339

Keywords:

Incidence, catheters, prospective cohort,, phlebitis, risk factors, nursing.

Abstract

Objective: To determine independent predictors of peripheral intravenous catheter (PIC) phlebitis in hospitalized adults.

Method: A prospective cohort study was conducted on adults hospitalized with the first CIVP in a public hospital in Colombia. The dependent variable was the presence or absence of phlebitis; this was evaluated and defined with the Visual Infusion Scale (VIP Scale). Sociodemographic, clinical aspects and characteristics of the intravenous catheter, medications, and their administration were studied as potential predictors. Follow-up was performed for three days from the time of CIVP insertion. The cumulative incidence of phlebitis was calculated, and a bivariate and multivariate analysis was performed using binomial regression where relative risks (RR) were obtained with their respective 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results: A total of 817 patients were studied. The cumulative incidence of phlebitis was 11.5 % (95 % CI 9.3 - 13.8 %). Four independent predictors were statistically significant for the development of phlebitis, three of them risk factors: antibiotic administration (RR = 1.7), oxacillin administration (RR = 2.1), and administration of an electrolyte (RR = 2.4), as well as a protective factor, the use of an infusion pump (RR = 0.3).

Conclusions: Although there are factors associated with the incidence of phlebitis. In this study, the chemical factors related to the type and characteristics of fluids/medications were the independent predictors of phlebitis.

Author Biographies

Lyda Rojas , Fundación Cardiovascular de Colombia

Enfermera, Universidad Industrial de Santander (Colombia). Especialista en Evaluación Económica en Salud, Universidad de Antioquia (Colombia). Magíster en Epidemiología, Universidad Industrial de Santander. Doctora en Metodología de la Investigación Biomédica y Salud Pública, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona (España). Universidad Industrial de Santander y Centro de Investigación, Fundación Cardiovascular de Colombia, Floridablanca (Colombia).  lyda.rojas@correo.uis.edu.co. lydarojas@fcv.org. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4252-7105 

Dora Inés Parra, Universidad Industrial de Santander, Colombia

Doctora en Enfermería Clínica y Comunitaria, Universidad de Valencia (España). Universidad Industrial de Santander (Colombia). doiparra@uis.edu.co. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1527-973X

Natalia Esquivel Garzon, Universidad Industrial de Santander, Colombia

Doctora en Enfermería, Universidad Nacional de Colombia. Universidad Industrial de Santander (Colombia). nesquiva@uis.edu.co. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5354-6774

Fabio Alberto Camargo-Figuera , Universidad Industrial de Santander, Colombia

Doctor en Epidemiologia, Universidad Federal de Pelotas, Río Grande del Sur (Brasil). Universidad Industrial de Santander (Colombia). falcamfi@uis.edu.co. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6070-9327 

Published

2025-06-13

How to Cite

Rojas , L., Parra, D. I., Esquivel Garzon, N., & Camargo-Figuera , F. A. . (2025). Independent predictors of phlebitis in peripheral intravenous catheters in a cohort of hospitalized adults. SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL SALUD UNINORTE, 41(2), 545–560. https://doi.org/10.14482/sun.41.02.842.339

Issue

Section

ORIGINAL ARTICLE