A nursing student asks why midline catheters need strict sterile dressing changes when short peripheral IVs do not.Which answer by the experienced nurse is most accurate?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Midline catheters can stay in place for as long as 4 weeks,so dressing changes must be done with strict sterile technique to reduce the incidence of infection.The tip does not lie in the right atrium; it resides no farther than the axillary vein.These catheters are used for a wide range of fluids and medications,so tonicity would not be a factor in infection risk.

A Nursing Student Asks Why Midline Catheters Need Strict Sterile