The Infusion Nurses Society (INS) has released new standards that state for the first time a preference for a method of securing or stabilizing catheters. "Whenever feasible, using a manufactured catheter stabilization device is preferred," the revised standards state. Nonsterile tape and suture are no longer listed as acceptable methods of catheter stabilization. Revised guidelines for controlling catheter-related infections also recommend evaluating catheter stabilization devices to reduce the incidence of I.V. infection.

The INS does not endorse specific medical products, but at present the StatLock IV safety device (Venetec International) is the only evidence-based catheter stabilization device that meets the INS revised standards. Devices similar to the StatLock IV are cited in guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.

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