The effects of three-way stopcock and split septum injection valve usage on catheter infection and colonization

Aim: The study aims to determine the effects of use of three-way stopcock and split septum injection valve in intravenous applications on the peripheral venous catheter infection and colonization. Material and method: This quasi-experimental study was conducted with a control group using post-test. The research was carried out in the General Surgery Service of the Fırat University Faculty of Medicine Hospital, between October 2015 and September 2016. The study population consisted of adult patients hospitalized for more than 72 hours, who had no barrier to communicate and received treatment by the intravenous catheter application in the general surgery service. The sample of the study consists of 216 patients (n=108 in the control group, and n=108 in the experimental group) who were selected randomly based on power analysis. The sample of the study was selected by the non-probability random sampling method. An introductory information form for the patients, catheter follow-up chart, catheter complication follow-up form, and catheter removal form was used for data collection in the study. The catheter was removed for culture sampling 72 hours after the application of intravenous instruments on the peripheral venous catheter applied by the researcher. In the analysis of data, descriptive statistics and Pearson's Chi-Square were used. Results: In the comparison of culture results between patients who had three-way stopcock and split septum injection valve application, the proliferation rate was found to be 5.6% in patients with three-way stopcock application, whereas the proliferation rate was 2.8% in patients with split septum injection valve application. The difference found to be statistically insignificant according to the culture results compared on the basis of intravenous instruments used. Conclusion: Three-way stopcock and split septum injection valve can be used safely in patients who need multiple fluid treatments simultaneously. Keywords: Three-way stopcock, split septum injection valve, catheter colonization, nursing.