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Lung cancer: Help reduce the risk of BSI from PICC lines
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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 bloodstream infections (BSIs) are serious complications that may occur in patients with PICCs inserted1.

The authors conducted a retrospective study comparing PICC care methods on clinical outcomes and nursing compliance in patients receiving chemotherapy for lung cancer1.

PICC line placement by dedicated PICC nurses makes all the difference1

Out of a total of 80 patients with lung cancer, 40 were randomly assigned to the comparison group and 40 to the observation group. For comparison group patients, nurses conducted routine PICC placement and maintenance.

For observation group patients, dedicated nursing teams trained with the right skillsets and practices cared for and maintained PICCs (see below).

Dedicated nurses for PICC lines in the observation group:1

  1. Assess patient’s vascular condition before placement
  2. Disinfect insertion site and nurse’s hand
  3. Insert needle gently and steadily
  4. Try to achieve first-stick insertion success
  5. Change insertion site dressing 24 hours after placement
  6. Check PICC for signs of infection on a daily basis
  7. Replace dressing once every 7 days or when necessary

Results of PICC line care and maintenance1

Hu et al. measured immune and tumour marker levels and nursing compliance between the two groups. There was no significant difference in immune or tumour marker levels between the two groups before care. After care, tumour marker levels were statistically significantly lower in the comparison group.

After care, immune levels were statistically significantly higher in the observation group than in the comparison group. Nursing compliance was statistically significantly higher in the observation group (93.8%), than in the comparison group (77.9%).

This retrospective study showed that PICC placement in patients with lung cancer receiving chemotherapy may prevent BSIs when performed by specialised PICC nurses and enable high rates of nursing compliance.

Learn more about the Hu et al. study and the impact of PICC care on catheter-associated BSI rates in patients with lung cancer: Read the full study

Read more scientific publications

 

References

  1. Hu Q, Su Y, Yan L. Effects of Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) Catheterization Nursing on Bloodstream Infection in Peripheral Central Venous Catheters in Lung Cancer: A Single-Center, Retrospective Study. Comput Math Methods Med. 2022;2022:2791464. doi:10.1155/2022/2791464

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