Peripheral catheterization

In medicine, peripheral catheterization is "insertion of a catheter into a peripheral artery, vein, or airway for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes" such as intravenous infusion] of [[medications or fluid therapy. This is in contrast to central venous catheterization.

Bacterial colonization
The rate of bacterial colonization is depending on duration of catheterization is:
 * 4 days is 1.0%
 * 5–9 days is 1.9%
 * 10–14 days 3.5%
 * 15–19 days is 7.0%
 * 20–24 days is 6.0%
 * >24 days is 5.7%