The September/October 2024 issue of the Journal of Infusion Nursing will be unique. This issue, comprised of 2 articles, provides an exceptional working reference for clinicians. These resources are the products of the INS Vesicant Task Force (VTF), which initiated its collaborative work in 2021.The VTF was comprised of clinical experts, including infusion specialists, clinical nurse specialists, infusion nurse educator and consultant, a pharmacist, infection preventionist, and vascular access clinician. Members include Lisa A. Gorski, Jennie Ong, Ruth Van Gerpen, Barb Nickel, Kathy Kokotis, and Lynn Hadaway.
The first article, “Development of an Evidence-Based List of Non-Antineoplastic Vesicants: 2024 Update,” is a collaborative effort of the entire task force and addresses the concern for extravasation caused by infusates. This compilation includes a tool for identifying risk categories stratified by risk level, tables identifying vesicants of moderate and high risk, a cautionary list of vesicants, an evidence table for peripheral intravenous administration of vasopressors, and an extravasation prevention checklist.
The second article, “Infiltration and Extravasation Risk With Midline Catheters: A Narrative Literature Review,” by Lynn Hadaway and Lisa A. Gorski, was undertaken due to the literature review yielding such a significant volume of articles related to midline catheters. This article addresses variations in midline catheter terminology, tip locations, and frequency of infiltration and extravasation in published literature.
The INS Vesicant Task Force is to be commended for their exceptional contribution to this field of study. The resources and tools developed by this team will serve clinicians in all settings in the years ahead.
Don’t miss this very important issue of the Journal!
