Patient safety in the context of phlebitis reported in a university hospital

Abstract

Background and objectives: Phlebitis may lead to the need for more complex care interventions such as the use of antibiotic therapy or even a surgical intervention, in addition to prolonging patient hospitalization and increasing the cost and risk of infections. Thus, aim of the present study is to describe phlebitis cases reported in a university hospital, thereby contributing with possible actions for improving the quality of care and patient safety. Methods: A retrospective observational study, developed in three hospitalization units of a university hospital in the city of Vitória, ES, Brazil. From June to August 2017, the charts of 76 patients were analyzed from phlebitis reports recorded by an electronic software. Information on the sociodemographic and clinical conditions of patients and related to the nursing records was collected. Data was tabulated in a Microsoft Office Excel 2007 worksheet and analyzed by the statistical program Statistical Package for Social Sciences 22 (SPSS 22). Results: It was identified that 56.4% phlebitis cases occurred in men aged between 41 and 65 years (42.3%) and 46.1% of patients used antibiotics. In 59.2% of cases, the adopted conduct was reported, and ice packs (44.7%) and limb elevations (34.2%) were the most performed. Conclusion: Knowledge about the characteristics of notified cases of phlebitis facilitates the understanding and minimization of this adverse event in order to establish conducts of prevention and reduction of risk and incidence. Keywords: Phlebitis. Patient safety. Peripheral catheterization. Nursing care.