News and innovation May 13, 2024
International Nurses Day: empowering nurses in vascular access
Happy International Nurses Day to all nurses out there! Nursing can sometimes be undervalued by healthcare leaders, policy makers and…
International Nurses Day: empowering nurses in vascular access
Happy International Nurses Day to all nurses out there! Nursing can sometimes be undervalued by healthcare leaders, policy makers and…
EU Directive 2022/431: What’s in it for healthcare workers?
EU Directive 2022/431 in a nutshell European Union (EU) Directive 2022/431, also known as the Carcinogens, Mutagens and Reprotoxic Substances…
Earth Day 2024: Our planet prefers TIVA anaesthesia—do you?
Healthcare's climate footprint is equivalent to 4.4% of global net emissions; this means that if the health sector were a…
Reducing infection with catheter care bundles
Catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs) are a serious threat to patients with a vascular access device, yet many are preventable using…
Join us at the 8th World Congress on Vascular Access (WoCoVA). We’re bringing together a world-class cast of vascular access…
Device and drug shortages in Europe persist, new survey shows
Countries across the globe face a wide range of challenges in accessing necessary health products, such as shortages and stockouts.1…
Scientific evidence on VATs: Is there enough? Is it robust?
There is much scientific evidence available on the efficacy of vascular access teams (VATs) in managing costs, preventing intravenous (IV)…
Long peripheral catheters: Tell us what you think
The use of ultrasound to guide peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) insertion can improve insertion success in patients with difficult venous…
How to turn a PICC team into a vascular access team
On the second day of BD MACOV@23, a virtual edition of the Multidisciplinary Advanced Course on Vascular Access (MACOVA) held…
PICC line or port catheter: Which one for cancer patients?
It can be challenging knowing when to insert a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC line) or port catheter into patients…
Quality control of prefilled flush syringes: key considerations
Before delving into the quality control of prefilled flush syringes, which are an integral part of vascular access management (VAM),…
Antibiotics shortages in Europe: what you need to know
“A new approach is needed to better tackle medicines shortages in the European Health Union,” the European Commission said in…
Safe connections webinar: open vs closed IV access
How can we define safe connections? Connections are critical junctures and/or points of access along intravenous (IV) lines. Microorganisms may…
Spanish vascular access team refines device selection algorithm
The Vall D’Hebron Hospital in Barcelona, Spain treats over 1.2 million patients per year, with 1,100 beds and a team…
PICCs in intensive care units: new Spanish guidelines fill a gap
When and how should peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) be used in intensive care units (ICUs)? At the end of 2022,…
3 factors to consider in vascular access device selection
Vascular access device (VAD) selection represents a crucial moment in vascular access management (VAM). “A peripheral vessel selection is not…
Tripledemic may return to Europe this winter: Vaccination still key
Four years after COVID-19 first emerged,1 it remains difficult to forecast how severe the 2023–24 respiratory infection season will be.2,3…
Make the case for a vascular access team by convincing with facts
You may have heard of a vascular access team (VAT) and its benefit to patient care, but you aren't sure…
PVAM care bundles: how we can measure their economic benefit
A common procedure with high risk Peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) placement is the most common invasive procedure carried out at…
Danish vascular access team facilitates shift to home care
When possible, certain patients may be better treated in the comfort of their home. Before 2014, Dr Bo Gottschau noticed…
Straight to the point: how to better manage needle phobia
Are you having trouble administering injections to patients with needle phobia? The fear of needles is frequent. An estimated 63%…
What can we learn from the new regional anaesthesia survey?
Over the last 20 years, regional anaesthesia practices have evolved with increased use, largely thanks to ultrasound, technical improvements and…
PICC lines: comparing infections in cancer vs noncancer patients
PICC lines are frequently used in cancer care Due to their ease of placement, peripherally inserted central line catheters or…
3 ways digital tools can help address vascular access complications
“Health organisations must promote a global vascular access strategy with specific actions for reporting, preventing, identifying and quantifying complications,” said…
New clinical safety tips for syringe pump systems for microinfusion
Though advances in technology have brought improvements in education, there is still a general lack of awareness among healthcare workers…
The push to build vascular access teams in Ireland
Almost 50% of all reported cases of Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infection (BSI) in the Irish hospital system are associated with…
CT scan contrast: How to help prevent extravasation
Intravenous (IV) injection of contrast media is frequently used for computerised tomography (CT) scans. CT scans may help clinicians detect…
A plunge into needlestick injuries in Belgium and the Netherlands
Each year, an estimated 1.2 million needlestick injuries (NSIs) occurred in Europe before the Covid pandemic.1 With a 22% increase…
How to identify and reduce the risk of catheter-related thrombosis
Catheter-related thrombosis is reported as one of the most common complications following central venous access insertion.1 Although it has been…
Beneath the surface: subcutaneous injection for dehydration
Risk of dehydration higher during the summer As temperatures rise during the summer months, the risk of dehydration increases. This…
How to set up a syringe recycling programme
Are you looking to implement a syringe recycling programme in your healthcare facility, but not sure where to start? This…
How human factors in healthcare contribute to avoidable harm
“How do we design and operate a system which has relatively inconsistent human beings at its core?”1 Dr Tim Kane,…
Addressing nurse retention with healthcare worker safety
High turnover among healthcare workers is an increasingly common phenomenon in hospitals worldwide, especially in intensive care units.1 According to…
Make the safety switch: 4 potential everyday safety hazards
Maintaining safety for both patients and healthcare workers can be a challenge. Adverse safety events such as errors, accidents and…
Invisible to invaluable: Honouring International Nurses Day
Worldwide, there are approximately 27 million nurses and midwives, making up nearly 50% of the global healthcare workforce.1 On the…
New clinic study: Reduce hazardous drug contamination with BD
Even in small concentrations, hazardous drug exposure can cause adverse effects such as internal organ damage, genetic mutations, increased rates…
What is the financial cost of preventable needlestick injuries?
Needlestick injuries (NSIs) pose a significant clinical and economic threat to healthcare institutions globally. When most are considered largely preventable,…
Development of a vascular access team: One size does not fit all
The benefits of a vascular access team are no secret. NIVAS (The UK National Infusion and Vascular Access Society) claims…
Nordics and the U.K. set standards for sustainable procurement
To fight against climate change, Norwegian health authorities have committed to a 40% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2030 and…
New Spanish vascular access team standard
On 4th November 2022, the Spanish Society of Infusion and Vascular Access (SEINAV: Sociedad Española de Infusión y Acceso Vascular)…
Vessel health: Novel scale assesses peripheral vein quality
Vessel health: Novel scale assesses peripheral vein quality Repeated insertion attempts can lead to pain, discomfort and vessel trauma, causing…
Lung cancer: Help reduce the risk of BSI from PICC lines
Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) can offer safe intravenous access for administering chemotherapy to patients with lung cancer1. However, catheter-associated…
The global challenge of needlestick injuries in healthcare
Needlestick injuries (NSIs) remain a global threat, with an estimated 44.5% of healthcare workers experiencing at least one occurrence annually.1…
First-stick insertion: impact of BD Instaflash™ needle technology
Peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) first-stick insertion success can be difficult to achieve even for experienced vascular access professionals1. First-stick insertion…
Difficult IV access: Is ultrasound-guided cannulation the answer?
Many healthcare professionals may recognise the common scenario of peripheral intravenous (IV) catheter insertion on a patient with difficult intravenous…
CVAM care bundles: how we can measure their economic benefit
Central vascular access devices (CVADs) allow for blood collection, nutritional support and medication administration when these cannot be provided safely…
Chemotherapy: How do TIVAPs measure up to other CVADs?
Choice of CVAD in intravenous chemotherapy administration Even though the advantages of central venous access devices (CVADs) over peripheral venous…
Extravasation injury claims cost NHS £15.6 million
When any form of liquid accidentally leaks from a vein into surrounding tissues, it can cause serious harm to patients1.…
Experts answer 5 pressing questions on vascular access at WoCoVA 2022
At the 7th World Congress of Vascular Access (WoCoVA), vascular access professionals and practitioners gathered in Athens, Greece 16-18th October,…
Are midline catheters underused in the emergency department?
“In the ED [emergency department], time is chief,” said Professor Baudolino Mussa, Vascular Access Surgeon and Professor of Vascular Access…
Feeling down after a needlestick injury? You’re not alone
Needlestick injuries (NSIs) may have potentially severe consequences on the mental health of injured healthcare workers (HCWs)1. Even though, the…
The ins and outs of syringe waste disposal
Plastics are a low-cost, strong and versatile material that can easily be shaped when melted1. Single-use plastics can be replaced…
How can you help reduce the risk of severe adverse events with TIVA syringe pumps?
On April 5th, Dr. Emiliano Tognoli from the National Cancer Institute of Milan spoke at a BD webinar held in…
8 ways aseptic technique can help prevent IV catheter-related infections
Variations in skin antisepsis practice 1 Skin antisepsis is an important part of aseptic technique. However, the practice of aseptic…
What’s new in U.K. Vessel Health and Preservation 2020?
Cannulation decisions are frequently made by less experienced healthcare professionals (HCPs)1. Intravenous (IV) complications are costly to both the patient…
Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) have been widely used as an alternative to central venous catheters (CVCs), especially for parental…
12 practice guidelines for needleless connector best practice
Used widely in acute care, needleless connectors (NCs) are designed to ensure patient and healthcare worker safety1–3. Focus on risks…
This post is intended for a United Kingdom audience only . Right device selection and end-user training are crucial factors when developing a…
Achieving infection prevention and control – The Portuguese Experience
Creating a culture of awareness and action – Dr. Cristina Nunes, MD, FICE Bragança Hospital, Portugal. Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are…
Using an aseptic technique is not only the most commonly performed procedure to prevent infection in healthcare, but it is…
Preventing sharps injuries – European Biosafety Network publishes new guidance
More sharps injuries due to COVID-19 Healthcare workers face numerous risks to their health and well-being at work. Due to…
Cancer care in a COVID-19 climate—Who can make a difference?
From policymakers, to manufacturers, to frontline workers, we all have a role to play in the battle against cancer, but…
Mussa B, Pinelli F, Cortés Rey N, et.al, Qualitative interviews and supporting evidence to identify the positive impacts of multidisciplinary…
Tackling cancer at the time of COVID-19 – The Time to Act is Now!
Though the COVID-19 pandemic has halted, altered and/or delayed oncology treatment for many patients, cancer isn’t waiting for normality to…
3 reasons to choose a validated syringe for use with infusion pumps
Did you know that choosing a syringe that hasn’t been validated for use with your infusion pump can put your…
Vascular access with COVID-19 webinar replay: a U.S perspective
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought many challenges to healthcare. Among them, overburdened healthcare systems have highlighted inefficiencies in vascular access…
Six tips to prevent repetitive strain injury in pharmacy technicians
Repetitive strain injury (RSI) is widespread, accounting for one third of all worker injury and illness cases across industries in…
Dr William R. Jarvis, President of Jason and Jarvis Associates, LLC The impact of catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs) is significant…
Make the case for a vascular access team by convincing with facts
You may have heard of vascular access teams (VATs) and the benefit to patient care but you aren't sure how…
“Complications of IV catheter therapy are simply the result of one complex and highly variable mechanical system—IV catheter equipment design, placement, use and care—being applied to a second complex and...
Fast fact
“I think that the biggest issue in our service is choosing which [vascular access device (VAD)] for which patients,” Professor Caren Randon, MD, PhD