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Effectiveness and safety of methods to prevent bloodstream and other infections and noninfectious complications associated with peripherally inserted central catheters
A systematic review and meta-analysis
Dobrescu, A., Constantin, A. M., Pinte, L., Chapman, A., Ratajczak, P., Klerings, I., Emprechtinger, R., Allegranzi, B., Grayson, M. L., Toledo, J. P., Gartlehner, G., & Nussbaumer-Streit, B. (2025). Effectiveness and safety of methods to prevent bloodstream and other infections and noninfectious complications associated with peripherally inserted central catheters: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Infectious Diseases. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciaf063
BACKGROUND: Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) have a 29% complication rate. This systematic review assessed 25 interventions to prevent PICC-associated infectious and noninfectious complications in participants of all ages.
METHODS: We searched electronic databases (MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, WHO Global Index Medicus, CINAHL) and reference lists for randomized (RCTs) and nonrandomized studies published from January 1, 1980-May 8, 2024. We dually selected studies, assessed risk of bias, extracted data, and rated certainty of evidence (COE). We included both single interventions of interest and combinations of at least two (bundle/multimodal). If three or more RCTs existed, we conducted Bayesian random-effects meta-analyses.
RESULTS: Seventy-four studies met our eligibility criteria (60 on individual interventions, 14 on bundle/multimodal), addressing 13 of 25 research questions. The majority were conducted in high-income countries; 36 focused on neonates. Evidence was very uncertain for 11 of the 13 research questions. Evidence with a stronger COE showed that ultrasound-guided catheter insertion reduced phlebitis/thrombophlebitis in adults compared to non-ultrasound-guided insertion (five RCTs; risk ratio [RR] 0.19, 95% credible interval 0.08-0.50); silicone catheters increased phlebitis/thrombophlebitis compared to nonsilicone (one RCT, RR 2.00, 95% confidence interval [95%CI] 1.26-3.17). Bundle interventions decreased local infections (one RCT, RR 0.47, 95%CI 0.31-0.72) and phlebitis/thrombophlebitis in adults (one RCT, RR 0.35, 95%CI 0.22-0.56) compared to routine care.
CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound-guided catheter insertion and nonsilicone catheters effectively prevented PICC complications. The evidence for other comparisons was too uncertain to draw conclusions, highlighting the urgent need for additional studies on prevention and control interventions.
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