Abstract
Background and Objectives: Over 80% of hospitalized patients receive intravenous therapy through peripheral catheters during a hospital stay. This technique of therapy has numerous complications such phlebitis which can affect the patient's health state. Prevalence of phlebitis in Iran is more than 70%. So, according to high prevalence of phlebitis and insufficient researches about chlorhexidine gluconate solution as a choice disinfectant for prevention of phlebitis, research in this subject seems necessary.
Materials and Methods: This research is a quasi-experimental study which was done on hospitalised patients in Tabriz Imam Khomeini hospital at internal units. For this aim collectively 90 patients were studied in chlorhexidine gluconate 2%, ethylic alcohol (Ethanol) 70%, and Betadine10%. Samples were selected through available sampling and divided into 3 groups randomly. Data collecting tool was observing checklist which includes two sections: demographic characteristics and standard scale of phlebitis signs and symptoms.
Results: This research showed that incidence of phlebitis in Chlorhexidine group was 36.7%; in ethylic alcohol group was 53.3% and in Betadine group was 46.7%. There were no significant differences between groups (P > 0.05).
Conclusion: Although there were no significant differences between using of three solutions on prevention of phlebitis, but incidence and signs and symptoms of phlebitis in chlorhexidine group was lower than ethylic alcohol and Betadine groups. So it is suggested as a selected solution for disinfecting of catheter insertion site.