Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the natural history of PHL during peripheral intravenous therapy with Teflon® catheters (TC). Sites (286) were selected randomly and inspected daily for signs of PHL. Sites that developed PHL were followed until symptoms resolved. A random sample of TC tips were cultured. Ten percent (30/286) of the sites developed PHL. TC induced sepsis did not occur and colonization was not associated with PHL. Factors associated with an increased risk of PHL were: nafcillin (p<.001), aminoglycosides (p<.01), parenteral nutrition (PN) (p<.009), age (older>younger, p<.008), race (white>black, p<.01) and cannulation time (>72 hours, p<.01). Multiple linear regression analysis using these variables revealed PN, nafcillin, aminoglycoside therapy and age as the most important determinants of the PHL rate. The mean onset and resolution time of PHL episodes was 69.2±39.3 hours (range 200 hours) and 39.5±26.8 hours (range 84 hours) respectively. In 9 cases, PHL was not fully developed until after the TC were removed. No factors hastened the onset of PHL and only PN prolonged the resolution time of PHL episodes. We conclude that the rate of PHL in children is less than that of recently published adult rates (18-23%). Phlebitis appears to be a minor complication during infusion therapy with TC.
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