To the Editor: Debate regarding the prevention of peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC)-associated bloodstream infection has been enriched by research and letters published in the Journal.1-3 Stuart and colleagues and Collignon and colleagues highlighted an association of long dwell times with PIVC-associated bloodstream infection.1,2 Rickard and colleagues refer to contrasting high-level evidence in a Cochrane review.3,4 We would suggest that important lessons can be learnt from both perspectives.
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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. Collignon PJ, Kimber FJ, Beckingham WD, Roberts JL. Prevention of peripheral intravenous catheter-related bloodstream infections: the need for routine replacement [letter]. Med J Aust 2013; 199: 750-751. <MJA full text>
- 3. Rickard CM, Webster J, Playford EG. Prevention of peripheral intravenous catheter-related bloodstream infections: the need for routine replacement [letter]. Med J Aust 2013; 199: 751-752. <MJA full text>
- 4. Webster J, Osborne S, Rickard C, Hall J. Clinically-indicated replacement versus routine replacement of peripheral venous catheters. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2010; (3): CD007798.
- 5. 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. doi: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2013.02.022.
- 6. Emergency Care Improvement and Innovation Clinical Network, Department of Health, Victoria. Evidence-based care in emergency departments 2014. http://health.vic.gov.au/clinicalnetworks/emergency/em2014-activities.htm (accessed Mar 2014).
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