Preventing infection during i.v. therapy.

1. Intravenous devices are susceptible to infectious complications because bacteria can migrate into the bloodstream from the skin along the cannula, from the hub or sideport of the cannula and from contaminated IV fluid. 2. Insertion of an IV cannula should be considered a minor surgical procedure and carried out with a high standard of asepsis. 3. There is conflicting evidence about the best type of dressing to cover the insertion site. 4. The relevant research on preventing infection associated with IV lines is discussed and related to practice.