Re: bacteremia and PICCs

[DS BROADHURST]

Will follow with interest others responses as this has been a grey area for us as well.

I suggest you check out the Guidelines for Intravascular Catheter Infections, by Mermel, L et al. (Journal of Intravenous Nursing, 2001, May June I believe- don't have the article here at home). The recommendation  (& again I can't quote the article- the statement is in one of the tables though) was basically that in the event of catheter-related bloodstream infections, catheters may be replaced once appropriate systemic antibiotic therapy is intitiated. (Let me know if you can't locate the article & I'll verify the reference for you.)

Daphne Broadhurst RN

Ottawa ON

 

----- Original Message ----
From: "Kilbourne, Susan" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Friday, October 13, 2006 3:30:33 PM
Subject: bacteremia and PICCs

I am hoping soemone can help me out here. Our Infectious Disease Doc is recommending I write a policy about not placing PICCs in patient's with bacteremia especially staph. I have never gotten a very clear picture of if it is OK or not. If a patient needs central access so they can receive long term antibiotics to cure this problem, isn't a PICC the best bet?  I don't feel it is our VAT nurses decision to overide physicians orders. I guess what I need is literature to back me up one way or another...Help!

Sue Kilbourne

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