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Nosocomial infections
associated with intra
venous (IV) therapy
are a major concern in today’s
medical care.
The field of intravenous
therapy has been subject to
major change, with increasing
number of nurses taking on the
high profile, technical aspect of
care.
Now a days the intravenous
therapy is used in hospital to :
 Replace fluid and electrolyte
in patients who cannot
take these orally.
Replenish blood supply.
Give highly irritating medications.
Restore acid base balance.
Speed up the action of certain
medications by injecting
them directly into the
blood stream.
There are two major sources of
blood stream infection associated
with any intravascular
device :
Colonisation of the device
itself.
Contamination of the fluid
administered through device.
The goal of minimising IV catheter-
related infections can be
achieved by compliance with
The authors are : *Tutor, Sarada Devi
Institute of Medical Sciences, #1525,
Mahanadi Vihar, Cuttack, ** Principal,
LJMSC Nursing, Bhubaneswar, Orissa
and *** Asst. Professor, Department of
General Surgery, MKCG Medical
College, Berhampur, Orissa,
respectively.
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accepted basic infection control
principles which include:
a. Effective hand washing by
the practitioner before
and after intravenous
care.
b. Strict adherence to aseptic
procedure from the
start and maintaining the
therapy.
c. Protection of the site from
contamination during the
therapy.
d. Regular and frequent assessment
of the patient
and the intravenous side
for detection of any developing
problem.
Objectives
The study sought to : (i) assess
and evaluate the knowledge of
staffs nurses towards management
of IV catheter-related
infection in surgical wards of
MKCG Medical College Hospital,
Berhampur. (ii) study the
relationship of knowledge of
staff nurses with the variables
like age, education and experience,
and (iii) assess the association
between age, education
and experience with knowledge
by chi-square testing (a
statistical method).
Assumptions
a. The staff nurses will have
some knowledge about IV
catheter-related infections.
b. Staff nurses will express
their free and frank feelings
about intravenous
catheter-related infections.
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c. Information gathered from
staff nurses would form a
basis for future improvement
of knowledge of staff
nurses.
d. The population selected for
the study comprised of the
staff nurses working at surgical
wards of MKCG Medical
College Hospital,
Berhampur, Orissa.
Research Tools & Techniques
Structured knowledge questionnaires
research design was
found to be practicable.
Delimitations
The study is delimited to : (a)
only staff nurses attending in
surgical wards of MKCG Medical
College Hospital,
Berhampur, (b) staff nurses
available during the study period
and willing to participate
in the study, (c) knowledge of
staff nurses about IV catheterrelated
infections, and (d) written
answers by staff nurses on
structured knowledge questionnaires
about IV catheterrelated
infections.
Methodology
Research methodology indicates
the general pattern of
organising the procedure for
gathering valid and reliable
data from investigation.
A structured knowledge
questionnaires was prepared to
assess the knowledge of staff
nurses. Out of 25 questions, 5
were having one correct an-
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swer and 20 were with more
than 1 correct answers. A score
was given to each correct responses
and the possible range
of score was 0 to 3.
To ensure the content validity
of tool it was submitted to 5
experts of the related field and
their valuable opinion and suggestion.
There was 100 percent
agreement of the experts,
knowledge and few items were
slightly modified in terms of
clarity as suggested by experts.
Data obtained from a sample
of 50 staff nurses were analysed
by descriptive research
method and inferential statistics.
Frequency, percentage
and mean score were tabulated
for each items and presented
through Tables (1 to 4) and
graphs.
TABLE 1.
Association between age and
knowledge score of staff nurses
about “a protective skin preparation
is essential before giving
IV therapy” (n = 50)
H1-The staff nurses of age more
than 40 years have more
knowledge in this regard than
the staff nurses of age below 40
years. It was found statistically
significant. The hypothesis
was found to be true.
TABLE 2.
Association between experience
and knowledge score of
staff nurses about “factors associated
with increased risk of
IV catheter-related infections”
(n=50).
H2- The staff nurses having
more than 10 years of experience
having more knowledge of
“factors associated with increased
risk of IV catheter-related
infections”. As seen in
Table 2, it was statistically significant
and the hypothesis was
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found to be true.
TABLE 3.
Educational status of staff nurses vs. knowledge score
in “treatment of thrombophlebitis” (n=50). H3- The staff
nurses with B.Sc. Nursing qualification have more knowledge
about treatment of thrombophlebitis than the general nursing
staff nurses. From Table 3 it was found to be statistically
significant. The hypothesis was found to be true.
TABLE 4.
Association between
educational
status of staff nurses
and knowledge score
about “concept,
causes, prevention,
complication and
management of IV
catheter-related infections”.
(n=50)
H4- The staff nurses
with B.Sc. Nursing
qualification have
more knowledge
than the General
nursing (GNM) staff
about the concept, causes, prevention,
complication and
management of IV catheter-related
infections. From Table 4
it was found to be statistically
significant. The hypothesis was
found to be true.
Discussion
The discussion is based on the
data procured for the study conducted
on knowledge assessment
of staff nurses regarding
management of IV catheter
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related infections.
As per Table 1, 4(8%) out of
50 had less than 5 years experience,
14 (28%) were having 6-10
years of experience and 32
(64%) were having more than
10 years of experience.
Age : 21 to 30 : 8 (16%)
31 to 40 : 22 (44%)
41 and above : 20 (40%)
Of the 50 subjects, 36 (72%)
were GNM and 14 (28%) were
B.Sc. Nursing
As per hypothesis 1, 2, 3 and
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4, most staff nurses who had
more than 10 years of experience
gave the fully correct answer
& scored more. The partially
correct answers were
given by nurses who had 6-10
years of experience. Incorrect
answers were mostly given by
the nurses who had less than 5
years of experience in specific
field and were aged below 40
years.
Education is a contributing
factor in the knowledge assessment
of staff nurses regarding
IV catheter-related infections.
The staff nurses with B.Sc.
Nursing qualification furnished
more correct answers
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and scored more as compared
to the staffs of general nursing
qualification and it was statistically
significant by chi-square
test. Thus, the factors most
clearly associated with the
knowledge assessment are:
age, education or training, experience
and interest in the
field.
References
1. Richard Sadvosky MD et al
(2000). Prevention of IV catheter
related infections, Aug 15
2. Maki DG et al A semi quantitative culture method for
identifying IV catheter related infections. N Engl J Med
3. Potter-Perry (2004). Basic Nursing
Essential for Practice 5th edition,
pp 352-92
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4. Wang EEL, et al (1984). The
management of Central venous
catheter infections
5. Walsh JS, et al (1986) Candidal
supportive peripheral thrombophlebitis
recognition, prevention
and management infect control.
7:16-22
6. Nahata MC, et al (1988). Management
of catheter related
infections in Paediatric patients.
7. Jernigan JA, Farr B, et al (1993).
Short course therapy of catheter
related staphylococcus aureus
bacteremia. A Meta-Analysis.
Ann Intern Med
8. Sherertz RJ (1997). Pathogenesis
of vascular catheter related
infections. New York Marcel
Dekker, I-29
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