Peripherally inserted central catheter bloodstream infection surveillance rates in an acute care setting in Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT

Peripherally inserted central venous catheters [PICCs] are alternatives to short-term central venous catheters and provide intravenous access in the acute hospital setting. In this study, we describe the rate of PICC-associated bloodstream infections [BSI]. Prospective cohort study using data on PICC lines reviewed from January to December 2009. The infection control team was responsible for prospective BSI case findings. The infection rate was calculated per 1000 device-days. During the study period, 92 PICC lines were inserted with a total of 3336 device-days of prospective surveillance. The most frequent reasons for the insertion of the PICC lines were chemotherapy [n=19, 20.7%], intravenous antimicrobial therapy [n=34, 37%], and for patients in the medical intensive care unit [ICU] [n=16, 17.4%]. The overall BSI rate was 4.5/1000 PICC days. The PICC line-associated BSI rates for a specific indication were as follows chemotherapy 6.6/1000 device-days, intravenous antimicrobial therapy 1.2/1000 device-days, medical ICU 7.3/1000 device-days, surgical ICU 4.6/1000 device-days, and total parental nutrition patients 2.4/1000 device-days [P<.001]. The rates were not adjusted for patient severity of illness. Our data suggest that underlying conditions and indications for the PICC line use may play an important role in the development of BSI