Infusiontider

Infusiontider is a term used in medical contexts to denote the duration of an infusion, typically intravenous therapy. It refers to the total time from the start to the completion of an infusion, as determined by the prescribed administration rate and the intended volume of fluid. Clinically, infusion times are managed with infusion pumps or manual administration and are expressed as a rate (such as milliliters per hour) and a total volume.

Calculation and planning: The basic relation is time = volume divided by rate, but actual practice includes adjustments for line flushes, interruptions, or concomitant medications. Accurate infusion time helps ensure the drug is delivered at therapeutic levels while reducing the risk of adverse events such as underdosing or extravasation.

Factors and safety: Infusion times are influenced by drug properties (stability and compatibility), solution viscosity, the caliber of the IV catheter, the patient’s physiologic status, and institutional protocols. Nurses and pharmacists monitor the infusion for rate accuracy, signs of infiltration or phlebitis, and patient tolerance. If symptoms occur or a longer exposure is unsafe, the rate may be decreased or the infusion paused.

Other uses: The term also appears in non-medical contexts to describe steeping times in culinary or beverage preparation, where infusion time affects flavor extraction.