The World Health Organisation (WHO) has published the first global guidelines to prevent the occurrence of bloodstream and other infections caused by use of catheters placed in minor blood vessels during medical procedures.
Poor practices in the insertion, maintenance, and removal of these catheters carry a high risk of introducing germs directly to the bloodstream, which can trigger serious conditions like sepsis, and difficult-to-treat complications in major organs like the brain and kidneys.
Soft tissue infections at the insertion site of the catheter can also occur.
Up to 70% of all in-patients need to have a catheter inserted into a peripheral vein or artery, also known as peripherally inserted catheters (PIVCs), at some point during their hospital stay.
People receiving treatments through catheters often are particularly vulnerable to infections, as they might be seriously ill or have low immunity.
WHO said that between 2000 and 2018, average mortality among patients affected by health care-associated sepsis was 24.4%, increasing to 52.3% among patients treated in intensive care units.
Many bloodstream infections are caused by antibiotic resistant bacterial infections. It is estimated that bacterial antimicrobial resistance (AMR) was directly responsible for at least 1.27m deaths and contributed to an additional 4.95m deaths in 2019.
Developing and implementing guidance to prevent the spread of such infections has been a key priority for WHO. The new guidelines include 14 good practice statements and 23 recommendations on key areas for health workers, including:
• education and training of health workers
• techniques of asepsis and hand hygiene practices
• insertion, maintenance, access, removal of catheters, and
• catheter selection
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
UK national infection control campaign sees 80% drop in ICU bloodstream infections
Anti-bacterial coating for intravascular catheters
Combating hospital ‘superbugs’ without antibiotics – US study
Only one of four sepsis screening tools ‘reasonably accurate’ – German study
CDC issues new guidelines on sepsis management