Hi All, I am a new Vascular Access Nurse and am having issues with many of the MD's at my facility wanting to remove a patient's PICC line immediately and culture tip, the issue being they are wanting us to place another PICC right away. The other portion of this issue is that once a patient with a line begins to show ANY signs of infection, the first intervention ALWAYS seems to be remove the PICC and culture tip. I have had to do this 3 times over about 3 months and not 1 tip has come back positive. Can anyone direct me to some evidenced based best practice standards or research regarding this?
Thanks,
Newbie :)
Here you go:
1. Mermel LA, Allon M, Bouza E, et al. Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Intravascular Catheter‚ÄêRelated Infection: 2009 Update by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Clinical Infectious Diseases. 2009;49(1):1-45.
Lynn
Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RN, BC, CRNI
Lynn Hadaway Associates, Inc.
126 Main Street, PO Box 10
Milner, GA 30257
Website http://www.hadawayassociates.com
Office Phone 770-358-7861