Volume 199 - Issue 11
Prevention of peripheral intravenous catheter-related bloodstream infections: the need for routine replacement
Authors: Rhonda L Stuart, M Lindsay Grayson and Paul D R Johnson
Med J Aust 2013; 199 (11): 751. || doi: 10.5694/mja13.11005
Published online: 16 December 2013
Published online: 16 December 2013
In reply: We thank Collignon and colleagues for their letter regarding our study on peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC)-associated Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia.1 We agree with their comments. Both their data and ours support the potential importance of establishing a national standard for the insertion and management of PIVCs in Australia. Such a standard needs
to address the basics of PIVC management: not inserting PIVCs unless required;2 ...
In reply: We thank Collignon and colleagues for their letter regarding our study on peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC)-associated Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia.1 We agree with their comments. Both their data and ours support the potential importance of establishing a national standard for the insertion and management of PIVCs in Australia. Such a standard needs to address the basics of PIVC management: not inserting PIVCs unless required;2 using an aseptic technique when inserting PIVCs (including the use of sterile gloves); immediate removal of PIVCs placed in emergency situations; and subsequent removal of all PIVCs after no longer than 72 hours. Adherence to such a national standard could then be regularly audited, in much the same way that hand hygiene is now audited across the country,3 allowing comparisons and feedback between hospitals. Such an initiative is necessary if we are to see rates of PIVC-associated S. aureus bacteraemia decrease.
Competing interests
No relevant disclosures.
References
- Stuart RL, Cameron DRM, Scott C, et al. Peripheral intravenous catheter-associated Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia: more than 5 years of prospective data from two tertiary health services. Med J Aust 2013; 198: 551-553. CHDBHGDH
- Limm EI, Fang X, Dendle C, et al. Half of all peripheral intravenous lines in an Australian tertiary emergency department are unused: pain with no gain? Ann Emerg Med 2013; 62: 521-525. CBBFDHBF
- Hand Hygiene Australia. The National Hand Hygiene Initiative. http://www.hha.org.au (accessed Jul 2013).