Don't place, or leave in place, peripherally inserted central catheters for patient or provider convenience.

Rationale and Comments

Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) are commonly used devices in contemporary medical practice that are associated with two costly and potentially lethal health care-acquired complications: central-line associated bloodstream infection and venous thromboembolism. Given the clinical and economic consequences of these complications, placement of PICCs should be limited to acceptable indications (long-term intravenous antibiotics, total parenteral nutrition, chemotherapy and frequent blood draws). PICCs should be promptly removed when acceptable indications for their use ends.

Sponsoring Organizations

• Society of General Internal Medicine

Sources

• Systematic review and meta-analysis

Disciplines

• Infectious disease
• Surgical

References

• Chopra V, Anand S, Krein SL, Chenoweth C, Saint S. Bloodstream infection, venous thrombosis, and peripherally inserted central catheters: reappraising the evidence. Am J Med. 2012;125(8):733-74.
  
• Chopra V, Anand S, Hickner A, Buist M, Rogers MA, Saint S, Flanders SA. Risk of venous thromboembolism associated with peripherally inserted central catheters: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet. 2013 May 17; pii: S0140-6736(13)60592-9. ePub ahead of print.
  
• Safdar N, Maki DG. Risk of catheter-related bloodstream infection with peripherally inserted central venous catheters used in hospitalized patients. Chest. 2005;128(2):489-95.
  
• Tejedor SC, Tong D, Stein J, Payne C, Dressler D, Xue W, Steinberg JP. Temporary central venous catheter utilization patterns in a large tertiary care center: tracking the "Idle central venous catheter". Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2012 Jan;33(1):50-57.