Daily change of an antiseptic dressing does not prevent infusion phlebitis: a controlled trial.

We carried out a controlled, randomized study in which we compared the incidence of infusion phlebitis in 83 patients whose povidone-iodine dressing over the infusion site was changed daily with a control group of 84 patients whose original dressing was left unchanged. Over 3 days the cumulative incidence of phlebitis in the study group was 60% and in the control group 59%. We conclude that the daily change of an antiseptic dressing does not reduce the risk of infusion phlebitis.