Intermittent Intravenous Administration Sets: Survey of Current Practices

The practice of using intravenous (IV) administration sets for intermittent infusion is subject to much controversy and there is no scientific data to validate the practice. To get an idea of this practice, an online survey was sent to approximately 4000 nurses, with 361 responding. The results highlight the vast differences in practice between the clinical settings of the available studies and how these sets are currently used. Although no recommendations for practice can be drawn from these data, they emphasize the urgent need for research on the use of intermittent administration sets and their contribution to the incidence of catheter-related bloodstream infection.