Efficacy of multifaceted interventions in reducing complications of peripherally inserted central catheter in adult oncology patients.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of multifaceted interventions in reducing complications of peripherally inserted central venous catheter (PICC) in adult oncology patients.
METHODS: Multifaceted interventions were implemented in our department in December 2006. These interventions include: (1) A mandatory nurse reeducation was developed by a multidisciplinary task force; (2) Modification of peripherally inserted central catheter insertion: take a chest X-ray before removal of the guidewire and cutting of the catheter. The guidewire in the catheter facilitates the accurate location of the tip of PICC on chest X-ray and make the malposition correction (withdrawing, reinsertion, even reinsertion following withdrawal) easily; (3) Using a 2% chlorhexidine preparation, replace 10% povidone iodine for skin antisepsis; (4) Maintenance of maximum sterile barrier precautions during PICC insertion and aftercare; (5) Designing of a PICC archive form and establishing a PICC archive for each patient. The PICC complication rates of groups before and after interventions were evaluated and compared.
RESULTS: Sixty-nine PICC lines were inserted before these interventions, and 165 were inserted after implementation of these interventions. Compared with preintervention group, the postintervention group was associated with a 62.14% decrease in the overall complication rate (11.52% vs 30.43% [P = 0.0004]; incidence density, 1.82 vs 4.62 per 1,000 PICC days) with a 67.48% decrease in the infective complications rate (4.24% vs 13.04% [P = 0.015]) with a 58.19% decrease in the noninfective complications rate (7.27% vs 17.39% [P = 0.0199]).
CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that these interventions implemented in this study may be help in reducing complications of PICC in adult oncology patients.