How often should the primary IV infusion set be changed to maintain asepsis?

The primary IV infusion set should be changed every 96 hours to maintain asepsis. This recommendation helps to reduce the risk of infection associated with vascular access devices. Current guidelines from organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Infusion Nurses Society (INS) emphasize that leaving an IV set in place for longer than this period can lead to an increased risk of contamination and subsequent infections.

Maintaining asepsis is crucial in IV therapy, as bacteria can ascend along the catheter or enter the system through various points, potentially leading to serious complications. Changing the infusion set at regular intervals, specifically every 96 hours, provides a balance between the need to maintain a functioning access site for patient treatment and the imperative to minimize the risk of infection through good nursing practices.

This specific time frame helps promote patient safety, streamline workflow in the clinical setting, and align with established infection control protocols. The intervals suggested in the other options do not adhere to these guidelines and therefore would not adequately protect patient health in this context.