A new guide that explains the appropriate use of intravenous catheters aims to help providers select the right device for adult patients and prevent common but serious infections, according to the Annals of Internal Medicine. The Michigan Appropriateness Guide for Intravenous Catheters (MAGIC) is based on a review of 600 scenarios of different kinds of patients and treatments conducted by a team from the University of Michigan Medical School and VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System. The guide includes color-coded charts or algorithms to indicate which devices are appropriate or inappropriate in each case. "IV devices of all kinds are being put into patients without much thought about risks, benefits or alternatives, lead author Vineet Chopra, M.D., said in an announcement. "At the end of the day, we hope MAGIC will give providers the information they need to make a good decision for their patient, one that will render these devices appropriate and safe." Article