Table 2 Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics
|  | Control (n = 306) | Intervention (n = 313) | Total (n = 619) |
|---|---|---|---|
Age, yearsa | 60 (19) | 58 (19) | 59 (19) |
Sex: males | 166 (54) | 163 (52) | 329 (53) |
Diagnosis: | |||
 Surgical | 164 (54) | 168 (54) | 332 (54) |
 Medical | 139 (45) | 137 (44) | 276 (45) |
 Other | 3 (1) | 8 (3) | 11 (2) |
Weight category: | |||
 Under | 55 (18) | 61 (19) | 116 (19) |
 Healthy | 151 (49) | 160 (51) | 311 (50) |
 Over | 87 (28) | 79 (25) | 166 (27) |
 Obese | 13 (4) | 13 (4) | 26 (4) |
Three of more co morbidities: | 164 (54) | 171 (56) | 335 (54) |
Abs. leucocytes < 1000 μL within 72 h | 11 (4) | 15 (6) | 26 (5) |
Infection at recruitment | 24 (8) | 31 (10) | 55 (9) |
Wound | 99 (32) | 94 (30) | 193 (31) |
Good skin integrity | 107 (35) | 130 (42) | 237 (38) |
Vein quality: | |||
 Good | 53 (43) | 62 (47) | 115 (45) |
 Poor | 69 (57) | 71 (53) | 140 (55) |
Antibiotic therapy at recruitment | 153 (50) | 125 (40) | 278 (45) |
IV therapy at recruitment: | |||
 Fluids | 147 (48) | 162 (52) | 309 (50) |
 Intermittent | 38 (12) | 26 (8) | 64 (10) |
 None | 121 (40) | 125 (40) | 246 (40) |
Inserted on dominant side | 159 (54) | 148 (48) | 307 (51) |
Inserted by: | |||
 Doctor | 125 (65) | 156 (73) | 281 (69) |
 Nurse | 58 (30) | 48 (23) | 106 (26) |
 Other | 10 (5) | 9 (4) | 19 (5) |
Device location: | |||
 Hand | 93 (30) | 113 (36) | 206 (33) |
 Cubital fossa | 80 (26) | 68 (22) | 148 (24) |
 Posterior forearm | 63 (21) | 53 (17) | 116 (19) |
 Wrist | 38 (12) | 50 (16) | 88 (14) |
 Anterior forearm | 30 (10) | 25 (8) | 55 (9) |
 Other | 2 (1) | 4 (1) | 6 (1) |
Multiple insertion attempts | 42 (26) | 45 (24) | 87 (25) |
Skin preparation: | |||
 Chlorhexidine 2% with 70% alcohol | 118 (89) | 149 (96) | 267 (93) |
 Other | 14 (5) | 6 (2) | 20 (3) |
Device size (gauge): | |||
 22 | 95 (31) | 105 (34) | 200 (32) |
 20 | 163 (53) | 168 (54) | 331 (54) |
 18 | 47 (15) | 40 (13) | 87 (14) |
 16 | 53 (43) | 62 (47) | 115 (45) |
Extension tubing | 216 (71) | 205 (65) | 421 (68) |
Three-way tap | 220 (72) | 212 (68) | 432 (70) |