Infusion phlebitis can be caused by a multitude of factors including the chemical nature of the infusion, the catheter type, insertion and care technique, and factors leading to catheter or site contamination. A cross-sectional study of 100 randomly selected charts of patients were reviewed for the occurrence of phlebitis and IV-related adverse event. In addition, an 8-item questionnaire that assessed 51 physicians’ and nurses’ knowledge of phlebitis and aspects of prevention and care was administered. 95 of the 100 patients were included in the study. Overall phlebitis incidence was 36.8%. Three cases of infiltration and one of extravasation were also documented. The median interquartile range (IQR) score was 62.5 (50-75). This study reports a moderately high incidence of phlebitis and other IV complications. It suggests the need for a better system of documenting phlebitis, and the need to be consistent in compliance with CDC guidelines for line longevity
Keywords: Incidence, Intravenous Access, Knowledge, Nursing, Phlebitis
