Nurse’s IV Placement Technique Contributes to Cellulitis and Sepsis

Case Overview

This case involves a patient who was transported to a hospital after experiencing a cardiac event. While the patient was being worked up and awaiting treatment, a nurse had several failed attempts at placing an IV line and reportedly deviated from the aseptic technique. The description from the patient’s wife was that the nurse never swabbed the skin with antiseptic solution and repeatedly dropped the exposed needle onto the bed before inserting it into the skin on a second attempt. Subsequently, the patient developed cellulitis at the IV puncture site and severe sepsis during his hospital stay.