SPOTLIGHT ON MACOVA 2025: Together we all play a part in preventing vascular access complications
MACOVA – Multidisciplinary Advanced Course on Vascular Access was kicked off on Wednesday, 11 June, in Amsterdam. The event brought…
PICC roundtable: «There are certain tricks and tips that you need to know»
PICC catheters provide central venous access through a peripheral vein in the upper arm. For intravenous therapies, they offer an…
Intravenous (IV) medication errors are common in healthcare1,2,3, with studies showing that up to 10% of IV administrations are associated…
Launching an OPAT service at Swansea Bay Health Board
In Wales, several government initiatives are aimed at bringing healthcare services closer to people’s homes, making it easier for people…
Celebrating Infusion Nurses: Guardians of Patient Care
Every year on January 25th, the Infusion Nursing Society is celebrating the IV Nurses. At BD IV News, we are…
Home infusion: Italy’s H-VAS programme supports PICC care at home
Italy has one of the highest percentages of older adults in the European Union,1 with approximately 24% of the current…
Considerations for organisations facing nurse shortages
A shortage of nurses, physicians and other healthcare workers is the reality across the United Kingdom and Europe.1,2 The U.K.…
How to build CVAM care bundles
It is estimated that up to 90 percent of people treated within a hospital in-patient setting receive an intravascular (IV)…
The role of medication pH in choosing an IV catheter
There are a lot of factors to consider in choosing the appropriate vascular access device (VAD), including treatment regimen and…
Irritants and vesicants: ensuring safe IV therapy
Certain infusates used in patient treatments can cause discomfort or injury, either to the veins directly, or to surrounding tissues…
Convenience packs: streamlined IV catheter care in the hospital and at home
Along with other considerations, central venous catheters or peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) are typically recommended when longer-term intravenous (IV)…
Occupational cancer: How you can help reduce the risk
Healthcare workers (HCWs) who handle hazardous drugs (HDs) or hazardous medicinal products (HMPs) have a highly significant genotoxic risk, which…
Effective IV cannulation training is essential for patient safety
Placing an intravenous (IV) cannula can be challenging for experienced doctors and intimidating for less experienced ones.1 Cannulation errors occur…
The sustainability benefits of prefilled flush syringes
From the electricity required to run hospitals, to the emissions created by healthcare-related supply chain processes, healthcare has a significant…
Safe handling of hazardous drugs: applying the CMRD in Ireland
Exposure to a hazardous drug (HD) or hazardous medicinal product (HMP) can occur to any worker involved in any stage…
Veterinary IV catheter placement: how to manage challenges
Peripheral intravenous catheters (PIVCs) are frequently placed in veterinary patients to administer fluids and medications.1 However, these vascular access devices…
IV fluid osmolarity: what to know for IV catheter selection
Multiple selection criteria will determine the appropriate vascular access device (VAD) for your patient.1 These include but are not limited…
Safeguarding patient safety and reducing misconnection errors
“Wrong route” medication errors can have catastrophic consequences, including paraparesis, paraplegia or death.1,2 These types of errors typically occur as…
Malaria vaccination: What you need to know
Since 2000, mortality from malaria has fallen thanks to prevention efforts, including insecticide-treated mosquito nets (ITNs), indoor residual spraying and…
Climate change effects on health: You have a role to play
When we think about climate change, the first things that spring to mind are polar bears, melting icecaps and bleached…
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…
IV flush via prefilled saline syringes in operating theatres and ICUs
Challenges of vascular access in operating theatres and ICUs Operating theatres and intensive care units (ICUs) are hectic environments where…
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…
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)…
BD IV News 2.0: building an IV therapy community
Your source of information on IV therapy just got a whole lot better. Following feedback from readers, BD IV News…
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…
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…
Best practices for phase 1 investigational drugs trials
Before pharmaceutical products are released onto the market, they undergo extensive screening as an investigational drug (IND, or investigational new…
Key insights on recent amendments to EU-MDR
The European Medical Device Regulation (EU-MDR) 2017/745 has brought many changes to the medical device industry and product availability. Thanks…
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…
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…
PICC, port or Hickman? Make the right choice in oncology
"I think that the biggest issue in our service is choosing which device for which patients,” said Professor Caren Randon,…
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…
How can vascular access affect patient satisfaction in hospitals?
A patient’s experience with vascular access can influence their perception of their overall hospital stay and satisfaction with their healthcare…
How to improve the reliability of healthcare, from Sir David Dalton
“The average hospital in Europe will experience the same number of deaths from avoidable and unsafe events as a double…
Peripheral venous catheters: Cost impact of PVC care bundles
Despite being the most commonly used invasive medical device in hospitals, short-term peripheral venous catheters (PVCs) often fail before the…
Adapting needlestick injury awareness to your target audiences
To raise awareness on needlestick injuries (NSIs) in hospitals, it is important to taylor communication to different groups of healthcare…
This post is intended for a United Kingdom audience only . Right device selection and end-user training are crucial factors when developing a…
Needlestick injury protection, according to a medical director
In this interview series, you will hear first-hand experiences of how hospitals are protecting their staff, managing reporting, implementing risk…
BD Emerald™ Syringes: Helping patients and the planet, one injection at a time!
Disposable syringes are widely used and vital for patient care. However, the single-use plastics (SUP) that disposable syringes are made…
BD educational hub to offer vascular access training at WoCoVA
Come and see us at WoCoVA 2022! The 7th World Congress on Vascular Access (WoCoVA) will take place from 16–18…
NIVAS white paper: The benefits of a vascular access team
Over a billion peripheral intravenous catheters (PIVCs) are used globally every year, yet 35-50% of them do not meet their…
EMEA braces for possible influenza epidemic next winter
Influenza surveillance data from the southern hemisphere may be able to predict influenza epidemics in the northern hemisphere1. By stepping…
Needlestick injury safety, according to an occupational hygienist
In this interview series, you will hear first-hand experiences of how hospitals are protecting their staff, managing reporting, implementing risk…
3 ways that BD is fighting climate change
Striving for a healthy planet with healthy patients Advancing the world of health means sustaining a resilient system of care…
PICC line or port catheter: Which one for cancer patients?
It can be challenging knowing when to insert a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) or port catheter into patients with…
BD Provena™ Midline Catheters are a family of peripherally inserted IV catheters. They are made from radiopaque body softening polyurethane materials.1 BD Provena™ Midline Catheters are indicated for reliable, short-term (less than…
“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...
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