Peripherally inserted central catheters: a hidden emerging cause of infection outbreaks

Abstract

In our institution, between January 2010 and December 2017, 15 140 peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) were inserted in 12 314 patients. Using time-series analysis to evaluate the annual historical trend (AHT), we observed a significant increase in bloodstream infections (BSIs; AHT = 24; p < 0.001) and associated deaths (AHT = 3; p 0.02) in patient with PICCs. The risk of experiencing a BSI was significantly higher in patients with PICCs (odds ratio = 9.6; 95% confidence interval, 9.08–10.18; p < 0.001). To reduce PICC-related BSIs and their related mortality, it is important to limit the overuse of PICCs and to implement a ‘no PICC’ policy by limiting the insertion of PICCs to situations without other available options.

Keywords

• Bacteraemia
• bloodstream infection
• hospital-acquired infection
• mortality
• PICC Line