Filtration and infusion phlebitis: a double-blind prospective clinical study.

The effect of final filtration on the incidence of infusion phlebitis was studied in a prospective, double-blind investigation involving 146 postoperative patients. The incidence of infusion phlebitis was found to be significantly reduced when an inline, 0.45-mum membrane filter was used. The greatest reduction of infusion phlebitis was in the filter groups receiving unbuffered solutions and no set change over the 72 hours of therapy. Buffering the infusion fluid or 24-hour change of the administration set did not have any effect on reducing the incidence of phlebitis. Antibiotic therapy appeared to have a slightly beneficial effect only when inline filters were employed. A significant rise in white blood cell count and an increase in sedimentation rate were observed in the patients receiving unfiltered fluids. It is recommended that inline final filters should be a part of routine intravenous therapy.

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes