Polat, Hilal TürkbenErci, Behice2024-08-042024-08-0420221308-092X2146-8893https://doi.org/10.5336/nurses.2021-87438https://search.trdizin.gov.tr/yayin/detay/1134727https://hdl.handle.net/11616/90102Objective: Connectors are frequently and necessarily used in patients undergoing intravenous fluid therapy. All of the catheters and connectors may be a risk factor for catheter infections if aseptic techniques were not used. This study was conducted to deter- mine the effect of 3-way stopcock (3WSC) and Split Septum Injection Valve (SSIV) Usage on peripheral intravenous catheter colonization and infection. Material and Methods: This is a quasi-experimental study. The sample of the study consists of 216 patients (108 control, and 108 experimental group). 3WSC was integrated to the control group and SSIV was integrated to the experiment group peripheral ve- nous catheters. Catheters were observed for 72 hours in terms of com- plications such as bleeding, leakage, and phlebitis infiltration. Catheters were removed for culture sampling 72 hours after catheterization. De- scriptive statistics and Pearson chi-square were used in the analysis of the data. Results: The rate of colonization was 5.6% in 3WSCs and 2.8% in SSIVs. When the colonization rates were compared, there was no statistically significant difference between 3WSCs and SSIVs about catheter colonization and infection (p>0.05). Conclusion: Both con- nectors can be used safely in the administration of continuous intra- venous solution and drug therapy. Development of continuous in-service training programs for the prevention of catheter related blood system infections are suggested.eninfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessArticle14377277810.5336/nurses.2021-874381134727