Can We Extend the Replacement Interval of Infusion Sets for Indwelling Vascular Catheters?

Catheter-related blood stream infections (CRBSIs) are the costliest healthcare-associated infections and are associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Current guidelines recommend changing the infusion set (e.g., tubing, connectors) not earlier than 4 days, but at least weekly, to mitigate risk.

Researchers at 10 Australian hospitals randomized 3000 adult and pediatric patients with central venous access devices (CVADs; 2224 patients) or peripheral arterial catheters (PACs; 720 patients) to infusion set replacement every 7 days or every 4 days. In both CVAD and PAC patients, rates of CRBSIs were similar with infusion set replacement every 7 days or every 4 days (1.8% and 1.5% for CVADs; 0.3% and 0% for PACs). In the 7-day group, c…