Incidence of Peripheral Intravenous Cannula Colonization in a Swedish County Hospital

Background:

Peripheral intravenous cannulas (PIVCs) are utilized in large scale in modern health care. Known complications due to a PIVC are phlebitis, thrombosis, bleeding, nerve damage and infection. PIVC-related infection causes morbidity, mortality and increased healthcare costs. In an Australian study the investigators found the presence of a PIVC the most frequent cause (36%) of healthcare-associated Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia during 2012. PIVC-related infections can and should be prevented.

Indwell time is a known risk factor for PIVC-related infection. Another factor potentially influencing the risk of developing PIVC-related infection is what type of PIVC that is being used. Roughly there are two types of PIVCs. One with an open injection valve and another with a closed injection valve. The former being far more used in Ryhov County Hospital, Sweden, and the latter being suggested as lowering the risk of PIVC-related infection compared to the open one.

In a systematic review from 2006 Maki et al report a point incidence of blood stream infections of 0,5 per 1000 catheter-days in PIVCs. In 2014 Hammarskjöld reported an incidence of 0,6 per 1000 catheter-days regarding central venous catheters (CVC). Maki et al concludes "..., infection control programs must strive to consistently apply essential control measures and preventive technologies with all types of intravascular devices." The investigators find there is a gap between the large scale utilization of PIVCs and the knowledge about PIVC-related infections and recommendations on how to prevent them. Hammarskjöld et al has done research on infections related to CVCs, subcutaneous venous ports and on arterial cannulas but not PIVCs.

The aim with this study is to evaluate the incidence of PIVC-colonization at Ryhov County Hospital, a 500-bed secondary level hospital in Sweden, as a first step in trying to understand what can be done to improve work regarding prevention of PIVC-related infections.