Infusion phlebitis in medical and surgical patients in Siriraj Hospital.

A study on infusion phlebitis was done in medical and surgical departments in Siriraj Hospitals from February to April 1992. Two hundred and eighty-one patients and 406 infusion sites were included. The infusion time was 40.6 +/- 31.9 hours. The incidence rate of phlebitis was 25.9%. There was no difference in its occurrence in medical and surgical patients. Dorsum of the hand was the site associated with low incidence and less severe phlebitis. The contrary applied to the forearm and arm. Plastic cannulae were associated with higher incidence, more severe phlebitis than steel needles, but this was not statistically significant. Intravenous antimicrobials were followed by higher incidence and more severe phlebitis. The value of early diagnosis of infusion phlebitis so as to halt its progress was also demonstrated in the study. In no case was the phlebitis, in the most severe form i.e. grade 5, encountered.