Duration of Intravenous Catheter Placement

Peripheral Intravenous Catheters

The Infectious Diseases Society of America recommends removing peripheral IV catheters based on clinical indication only, rather than at fixed time intervals, as routine replacement every 72-96 hours provides no infection benefit and increases costs and patient discomfort 1
There is no need to replace peripheral catheters more frequently than every 72-96 hours to reduce infection or phlebitis risk in adults, though this represents a maximum rather than mandatory replacement interval 1
In children, replace peripheral catheters only when clinically indicated 1
Remove peripheral IV catheters when signs of phlebitis develop, such as pain, tenderness, erythema, warmth, or palpable cord 1
Remove peripheral IV catheters when the catheter becomes occluded or malfunctions 2
Remove peripheral IV catheters when a patient develops fever without an obvious source 1

Replace midline catheters only when there is a specific clinical indication 1
Midline catheters are appropriate for 6-14 days of peripherally compatible infusates in general medical patients 3, 4

The Infectious Diseases Society of America recommends not routinely replacing CVCs, PICCs, or pulmonary artery catheters to prevent catheter-related infections 1
Do not remove CVCs or PICCs based on fever alone; use clinical judgment regarding infection evidence elsewhere 1
Internal jugular non-cuffed catheters should not be used for more than 1 week due to exponentially increasing infection risk 2
Femoral catheters should not remain in place longer than 5 days and should only be used in bed-bound patients with good exit-site care 2
Tunneled, cuffed catheters are preferred for longer durations of hemodialysis therapy over non-cuffed catheters due to significantly lower infection rates 2
Tunneled, cuffed catheters can provide access over a period of months 2
Non-cuffed catheter infection rates are more than 5 times greater with internal jugular catheters and almost 7 times greater with femoral catheters compared to tunneled cuffed catheters 2

Replace administration sets no more frequently than at 96-hour intervals, but at least every 7 days for patients not receiving blood, blood products, or fat emulsions 5, 6, 7, 8
Replace tubing for blood, blood products, or fat emulsions within 24 hours of initiating infusion 5, 6, 7, 8
Replace propofol infusion tubing every 6 or 12 hours when the vial is changed per manufacturer recommendations 5, 6, 7, 8
Change needleless components at least as frequently as the administration set, with no benefit to changing more frequently than every 72 hours 5, 6, 7, 8
Scrub access ports with appropriate antiseptic before each access 5, 6, 7, 8

Umbilical artery catheters should optimally not remain in place more than 5 days 2, 9
Umbilical venous catheters can be used up to 14 days if managed aseptically 2, 9
Remove umbilical catheters immediately if signs of catheter-related bloodstream infection, vascular insufficiency, or thrombosis develop 9

Do not routinely replace peripheral IVs at fixed intervals (72-96 hours) as this increases costs, patient discomfort, and catheter insertions without reducing complications 1
Do not discharge patients with non-cuffed central catheters due to risks of infection, inadvertent removal, and hemorrhage 2
Do not use femoral catheters for more than 5 days in non-bed-bound patients 2
Do not fail to monitor for signs of infection, including exit site changes, fever, or systemic symptoms 2