Acinetobacter infections in at-risk patients, emphasizing challenges and advocating for safer catheter materials to prevent severe complications Bloodstream infections from Acinetobacter baumannii-Acinetobacter calcoaceticus are more common in critically ill and debilitated institutionalized patients, who are heavily exposed to health care settings and invasive devices … (and) in hospital mortality rate was significantly higher among [...]

VRE bloodstream infections from infected central-line infections can cause long-term complications if not treated. Seven out of eleven CLA-BSIs (central-line associated bloodstream infections) in 2010 were caused by VRE (vancomycin resistant enterococcus) faecium” …Dr. Matthew Exline, MD, in Critical Care 2013, 17(R41). What else did Dr. Exline report in his article “Beyond the bundle-journey-journey [...]

Flaws in polyurethane catheters and the battle against central line infections We found no evidence of benefit or harm associated with miconazole and rifampin-impregnated PICCs compared with standard PICCs for newborn babies. Future research … should focus on other types of antimicrobial impregnation of PICCs and alternative approaches for preventing infection” … Professor Ruth Gilbert, MD, [...]

Central venous line bloodstream infections can lead to brain damage, bedsores, kidney failure, amputations, and death The fibrin sheath causes a confined space that surrounds the distal time of the PICC line, which restricted the flow of the injected contrast.” … Dr. Brent Burbridge. Canadian Association of Radiologist Journal 63 (2012) 323-328. What else [...]

Care bundles alone do not significantly reduce CLABSI rates; outdated materials like polyurethane and silicone may foster infections, despite compliance Improved compliance to central line care bundles alone may not be strong enough to significantly reduce central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) rates and the other factors unrelated to bundle compliance may have also influenced [...]

Sepsis impact on cerebral palsy risk in neonates and advocating for safer medical practices In babies with normal cranial ultrasounds, sepsis quadrupled the risk of cerebral palsy” … Janet Rennie, MD, Neonatologist, London, UK. Greg Vigna, MD, JD, national pharmaceutical injury attorney explains, “Infants born weighing less than 1500 grams are extremely vulnerable for [...]

Investigating hospital-acquired bloodstream infections caused by PICC lines and other central lines A variety of embolic and septic complications were observed... 20.8 % died during the index admission… Cumulative mortality at 1 year was 41.6%.” … Dr. Michael Chrissoheris, Hospital of Saint Raphael, New Haven, Connecticut. Greg Vigna, MD, JD, national pharmaceutical injury attorney, “The [...]

Safer alternatives to polyurethane PICC lines reduce infection risks and mortality rates Polyurethane causes inflammation that leads to occlusion of the venous catheter, leads to blood clots, and causes blood-steam infections. Simply using a safer PICC line will save lives and prevent disabling injuries” … Greg Vigna, MD, JD, national pharmaceutical injury attorney. Dr. Greg [...]

Study finds over 75% of PICC line and central line infections come from the ICU Hospital-acquired bloodstream infections in ICU patients was mainly caused by Gram-negative bacteria … (and) was associated with 37.1% mortality, and by day-28 only 16.1% of the patients had been discharged alive from the hospital” … Alexis Tabah, MD, Brisbane, [...]

Increased utilization of midline catheters not associated with a decreased risk of deep vein thrombosis or sepsis when compared with PICC lines. Though many institutions have started to adopt and utilize midline catheters in an attempt to decrease the complications associated with central lines, there have not been many studies, which compared the two [...]