To the Editor: Peripheral intravenous catheters (PIVCs) frequently cause Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia, and a disproportionate number of episodes involve catheters that have been left in place for ≥ 4 days or have been inserted in emergencies.1 Other studies have shown similar results with catheters left in place for > 48 hours or not routinely replaced after emergency placements.2-4
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- 1. 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. <MJA full text>
- 2. Trinh TT, Chan PA, Edwards O, et al. Peripheral venous catheter-related Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2011; 32: 579-583.
- 3. Collignon PJ, Sorrell TC, Uther JB. Prevention of sepsis associated with the insertion of intravenous cannulae. The experience in a coronary care unit. Med J Aust 1985; 142: 346-348.
- 4. Collignon PJ, Dreimanis DE, Beckingham WD, et al. Intravascular catheter bloodstream infections: an effective and sustained hospital-wide prevention program over 8 years. Med J Aust 2007; 187: 551-554. <MJA full text>
- 5. Collignon P; Australian Study on Intravascular Catheter Associated Sepsis. Intravascular catheter associated sepsis: a common problem. Med J Aust 1994; 161: 374-378.
- 6. Freixas N, Bella F, Limón E, et al. Impact of a multimodal intervention to reduce bloodstream infections related to vascular catheters in non-ICU wards: a multicentre study. Clin Microbiol Infect 2013; 19: 838-844.
- 7. Rickard CM, Webster J, Playford EG. Prevention of peripheral intravenous catheter-related bloodstream infections: the need for a new focus. Med J Aust 2013; 198: 519-520. <MJA full text>
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