Peripheral IV Securement Device Implementation to Reduce Phlebitis and Associated Infections

Background/Objectives: Hospital-associated infections (HAI) occur in 5 to 10% of hospitalized patients. In intensive care units (ICUs) these rates can be over 50%, with MROs accounting for over 1/3 of these infections and increasing. Despite recent attention to surface cleaning and hand hygiene programs MROs continue to be isolated from the hospital environment. We hypothesize that reservoirs of MROs exist in the environment as biofilms which are difficult to remove due to biofilms increased resistance to disinfectants. These biofilms periodically release planktonic (free swimming) bacteria back into the environment which then act as an infection source.