Are peripheral IV catheters more risk than we realise?

[Wishart, Michael]

An interesting report in Infection Control Today about the risk of
bloodstream infection with PIV’s
http://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/news/2011/05/peripheral-venous-cath
eters-pose-infection-risk.aspx

‘A new study from Rhode Island Hospital has found that more than one in
10 catheter-related bloodstream infections due to Staph aureus in
hospitalized adults are caused by infected peripheral venous catheters
(PVC). The study points out the substantial medical burden that arises
from complications from these infections due to the large number of such
catheters used in hospitalized patients. The study is published in the
journal Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology and is now available
online in advance of print.’
I find these quotes of particular interest:
‘While a published meta-analysis suggests that changing PVCs every three
days does not reduce infection risk, in one national survey, more than
90 percent of PVC sepsis cases were due to PVCs in place for three or
more days. Another published study found an independent, linear
relationship between PVC infectious complications and the length of time
the PVC was in place.’ and ‘Our study suggests that hospitals should
assess their risk of PVC-related infections and initiate interventions
to mitigate risk if such infections are found. Minimizing PVC placement
in the antecubital fossa, consideration for removing catheters within 24
hours if they were placed under emergent conditions, and strong
consideration for replacing PVCs after a 72-hour dwell time will reduce
risk of infection in adult patients.’

The reported article was published online at
http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/660099

It seems the debate on dwell time for PIV’s in not yet over!

Cheers
Michael

Michael Wishart | GPH – Infection Control Coordinator

GPH – Quality & Safety Unit (Infection Control) | Greenslopes Private
Hospital
Newdegate Street, Greenslopes QLD 4120
t: 07 3394 7919 | f: 07 3394 7985
e: WishartM@ramsayhealth.com.au | w: http://www.ramsayhealth.com.au

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