Histopathology and bacteriology of postinfusion phlebitis.

Veins from patients with postinfusion phlebitis showed three types of histopathologic changes--mild, moderate and severe. Severe change was usually associated with thrombus formation. Bacterial culture of tips of devices used in infusion yielded only 10% of positive cultures. This supports the view that postinfusion phlebitis is probably due to an irritating foreign body type reaction rather than infection.