How often should IV drips be changed?

This Cochrane review shows that there is probably little or no difference in safety if you change IV drips (peripheral venous catheters) only when clinically indicated compared to routine replacement. To change IV drips only when clinically indicated probably costs less than routine replacement of these.

What does the research tell us?

In systematic reviews, available research is collected and critically appraised. The research question in this systematic Cochrane review was: What is the effect of clinically indicated replacement compared to routine replacement (every 3-4 days) of peripheral venous catheters (IV drips) among patients receiving infusions for medication therapy?

Results show that clinically indicated change of IV drips:

  • may make little or no difference to the number of patients that get IV drips-related blood stream infection
  • probably makes little or no difference to the number of patients that get all-cause blood stream infection
  • probably makes little or no difference to the number of patients that get thrombophlebitis
  • probably reduces the cost of IV drips-related care

Read the whole "Briefly summarised" summary here