During the COVID-19 pandemic, use of gravity infusions and bolus injections for intravenous use may be more necessary than normal.
Gravity infusion sets may be used routinely in adults for:
- Infusion fluids given alone such as sodium chloride 0.9% or glucose 5% with no added potassium
- Infusion fluids with a medicine added where rate of administration does not need to be tightly controlled to prevent adverse effects
Medicines that can routinely be given via gravity infusion or intravenous bolus:
The table below lists medicines which may be added to infusions and given via gravity or which may be given by intravenous bolus injection.
Generally, if an IV medicine can be given safely by IV bolus injection, it should be administered as a bolus over a minimum of 3 minutes. All IV antibiotics should be given by IV bolus injection if it is safe to do so.
Click on individual links below to see corresponding information in Medusa injectable medicines guide.
Please also see the National Infusion and Vascular Access Society (NIVAS) Gravity infusion and Bolus IV drug administration guidance