The comparison of the effect of chlorhexidine gloconate 2% and alcohol ethylic 70% in prevention of phlebitis

Over 80% of hospitalized patients receive IV therapy through peripheral catheters during a hospital stay. This technique of therapy has numerous complications such as phlebitis which can affect the patient's health state. The prevalence of phlebitis in Iran is higher than other countries. So, according to high prevalence of phlebitis and insufficient researches about chlorhexidine gluconate solution as a selective disinfectant for prevention of phlebitis, research in this subject seems necessary.

This research is a clinical trial study which was done on hospitalized patients in Tabriz Imam Khomeini hospital in internal wards. For this aim collectively 60 patients were studied in chlorhexidine gluconate 2% and Alcohol ethylic (Ethanol) 70%.The Samples were selected through available sampling and divided in two groups randomly. Data collecting tool was observing checklist which includes two sections: demographic characteristics and standard scale of phlebitis signs and symptoms.

This research showed that incidence of phlebitis in chlorhexidine group was 36.7% and in Alcohol ethylic group was 53.3% which there was no significant differences between both groups (p>0.05).

Although there were no significant differences between using of two solutions on prevention of phlebitis, but incidence, signs and symptoms of phlebitis in chlorhexidine group was lower than Alcohol ethylic group. So, it is suggested as a selected solution for disinfecting of catheter insertion site.