Infections following left ventricular assist device implantation and 1-year health-related quality of life.

BACKGROUND: Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation leads to substantial and sustained improvement in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among patients. Infection following device implantation remains an important and frequent complication and adversely affects patient-reported HRQOL. METHODS: Patients in The Society of Thoracic Surgeons' Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support receiving a primary LVAD between April 2012 to October 2016 were included. The primary exposure was one-year post-implant infection, characterized by: (1) any infection; (2) total number of infections and (3) type (LVAD-specific, LVAD-related, non-LVAD). The association between infection and the primary composite adverse outcome (defined as EuroQoL Visual Analog Scale< 65, too sick to complete the survey, or death at 1-year) was estimated using inverse probability weighting and Cox regression. RESULTS: The study cohort included 11,618 patients from 161 medical centers with 4,768 (41.0%) patients developing an infection, and 2,282 (19.6%) patients having> 1 infection during the follow up period. The adjusted odds ratio for the primary composite adverse outcome was 1.22 (95% CI, 1.19-1.24, p < 0.001) for each additional infection. Each additional infection was associated with a 3.49% greater probability of the primary composite outcome and was associated with worse performance across multiple dimensions of HRQOL as assessed by the EQ-5D for patients who survived to 1 year. CONCLUSIONS: For patients undergoing LVAD implantation, each additional infection within the first post-implantation year was associated with an incremental negative effect on survival free of impaired HRQOL.

Mortality following durable left ventricular assist device implantation by timing and type of first infection.

OBJECTIVE: Although infections are common after left ventricular assist device implantation, the relationship between timing and type of first infection with regard to mortality is less well understood. METHODS: The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support patients receiving a primary left ventricular assist device from April 2012 to May 2017 were included. The primary exposure was defined 3 ways: any infection, timing of first infection (early: ≤90 days; intermediate: 91-180 days; late: >180 days), and type (ventricular assist device specific, ventricular assist device related, non-ventricular assist device). The association between first infection and all-cause mortality was estimated using Cox regression. RESULTS: The cohort included 12,957 patients at 166 centers (destination therapy: 47.4%, bridge-to-transplant: 41.2%). First infections were most often non-ventricular assist device (54.2%). Rates of first infection were highest in the early interval (10.7/100 person-months). Patients with any infection had a significantly higher adjusted hazard of death (hazard ratio, 2.63; 2.46-2.86). First infection in the intermediate interval was associated with the largest increase in adjusted hazard of death (hazard ratio, 3.26; 2.82-3.78), followed by late (hazard ratio, 3.13; 2.77-3.53) and early intervals (hazard ratio, 2.37; 2.16-2.60). Ventricular assist device-related infections were associated with the largest increase in hazard of death (hazard ratio, 3.02; 2.69-3.40), followed by ventricular assist device specific (hazard ratio, 2.92; 2.57-3.32) and non-ventricular assist device (hazard ratio, 2.42; 2.20-2.65). CONCLUSIONS: Relative to those without infection, patients with any postimplantation infection had an increased risk of death. Ventricular assist device-related infections and infections occurring in the intermediate interval were associated with the largest increase in risk of death. After left ventricular assist device implantation, infection prevention strategies should target non-ventricular assist device infections in the first 90 days, then shift to surveillance/prevention of driveline infections after 90 days.

Association Between Care Fragmentation and Total Spending After Durable Left Ventricular Device Implant: A Mediation Analysis of Health Care-Associated Infections Within a National Medicare-Society of Thoracic Surgeons Intermacs Linked Dataset.

BACKGROUND: Care fragmentation is associated with higher rates of infection after durable left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implant. Less is known about the relationship between care fragmentation and total spending, and whether this relationship is mediated by infections. METHODS: Total payments were captured from admission to 180 days post-discharge. Drawing on network theory, a measure of care fragmentation was developed based on the number of shared patients among providers (ie, anesthesiologists, cardiac surgeons, cardiologists, critical care specialists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants) caring for 4,987 Medicare beneficiaries undergoing LVAD implantation between July 2009 - April 2017. Care fragmentation was measured using average path length, which describes how efficiently information flows among network members; longer path length indicates greater fragmentation. Terciles based on the level of care fragmentation and multivariable regression were used to analyze the relationship between care fragmentation and LVAD payments and mediation analysis was used to evaluate the role of post-implant infections. RESULTS: The patient cohort was 81% male, 73% white, 11% Intermacs Profile 1 with mean (SD) age of 63.1 years (11.1). The mean (SD) level of care fragmentation in provider networks was 1.7 (0.2) and mean (SD) payment from admission to 180 days post-discharge was $246,905 ($109,872). Mean (SD) total payments at the lower, middle, and upper terciles of care fragmentation were $250,135 ($111,924), $243,288 ($109,376), and $247,290 ($108,241), respectively. In mediation analysis, the indirect effect of care fragmentation on total payments, through infections, was positive and statistically significant (ß=16032.5, p=0.008). CONCLUSIONS: Greater care fragmentation in the delivery of care surrounding durable LVAD implantation is associated with a higher incidence of infections, and consequently, higher payments for Medicare beneficiaries. Interventions to reduce care fragmentation may reduce the incidence of infections and in turn enhance the value of care for patients undergoing durable LVAD implantation.

Incompleteness of health-related quality of life assessments before left ventricular assist device implant: A novel quality metric.

BACKGROUND: Improved health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is an important outcome following durable left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implant. However, half of pre-implant HRQOL data are incomplete in The Society of Thoracic Surgeons' Intermacs registry. Pre-implant HRQOL incompleteness may reflect patient status or hospital resources to capture HRQOL data. We hypothesized that pre-implant HRQOL incompleteness predicts 90 day outcomes and serves as a novel quality metric. METHODS: Risk factors for pre-implant HRQOL (EQ-5D-5L visual analog scale; 12-item Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire "KCCQ") incompleteness were examined by stepwise logistic modeling. Direct standardization method was used to calculate adjusted incompleteness rates using a mixed effects logistic model. Hospitals were dichotomized as low or high based on median adjusted incompleteness rates. Andersen-Gill models were used to associate pre-implant HRQOL adjusted incompleteness rate with adverse events within 90 day post-implant. RESULTS: The study cohort included 14,063 patients receiving a primary LVAD (4/2012-8/2017). HRQOL incompleteness at high-rate hospitals was more often due to administrative reasons (risk difference, EQ-5D: 10.1%; KCCQ-12: 11.6%) and less likely due to patient reasons (risk difference, EQ-5D: -8.9%; KCCQ-12: -11.4%). A 10% increase in the adjusted pre-implant EQ-5D incompleteness rate was significantly associated with higher risk of infection-related mortality (HR: 1.09), infection (HR: 1.05), and renal dysfunction (HR: 1.03). A 10% increase in the adjusted pre-implant KCCQ-12 incompleteness rate was significantly associated with higher risk of infection (HR: 1.04). CONCLUSIONS: Hospital adjusted pre-implant HRQOL incompleteness was predictive of 90-day post-implant outcomes and may serve as a novel quality metric.

Correction: Understanding and Addressing Variation in Health Care-Associated Infections After Durable Ventricular Assist Device Therapy: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.2196/14701.].

Interhospital variability in health care-associated infections and payments after durable ventricular assist device implant among Medicare beneficiaries.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate variations across hospitals in infection rates and associated costs, the latter reflected in 90-day Medicare payments. Despite high rates and expenditures of health care--associated infections associated with durable ventricular assist device implantation, few studies have examined interhospital variation and associated costs. METHODS: Clinical data on 8688 patients who received primary durable ventricular assist devices from July 2008 to July 2017 from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support (Intermacs) hospitals (n = 120) were merged with postimplantation 90-day Medicare claims. Terciles of hospital-specific, risk-adjusted infection rates per 100 patient-months were estimated using Intermacs and associated with Medicare payments (among 5440 Medicare beneficiaries). Primary outcomes included infections within 90 days of implantation and Medicare payments. RESULTS: There were 3982 infections identified among 27.8% (2417/8688) of patients developing an infection. The median (25th, 75th percentile) adjusted incidence of infections (per 100 patient-months) across hospitals was 14.3 (9.3, 19.5) and varied according to hospital (range, 0.0-35.6). Total Medicare payments from implantation to 90 days were 9.0% (absolute difference: $13,652) greater in high versus low infection tercile hospitals (P < .0001). The period between implantation to discharge accounted for 73.1% of the difference in payments during the implantation to 90-day period across terciles. CONCLUSIONS: Health care--associated infection rates post durable ventricular assist device implantation varied according to hospital and were associated with increased 90-day Medicare expenditures. Interventions targeting preventing infections could improve the value of durable ventricular assist device support from the societal and hospital perspectives.

Urinary Tract Infections: 2021 Update.

Catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) remains one of the most prevalent, but preventable, health care-associated infections and predominantly occurs in patients with indwelling urinary catheters. Duration of urinary catheterization is the most important modifiable risk factor for development of CAUTI. Alternatives to indwelling catheters should be considered in appropriate patients. If indwelling catheterization is necessary, proper aseptic practices for catheter insertion and maintenance and use of a closed catheter collection system are essential for preventing CAUTI. The use of intervention bundles and collaboratives helps in the effective implementation of CAUTI prevention measures.

Authorship Correction: Understanding and Addressing Variation in Health Care-Associated Infections After Durable Ventricular Assist Device Therapy: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.2196/14701.].

Understanding and Addressing Variation in Health Care-Associated Infections After Durable Ventricular Assist Device Therapy: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study.

BACKGROUND: Durable ventricular assist device (VAD) therapy is reserved for patients with advanced heart failure who have a poor estimated 1-year survival. However, despite highly protocolized management processes, patients are at a unique risk for developing a health care-associated infection (HAI). Few studies have examined optimal strategies for HAI prevention after durable VAD implantation, despite variability in rates across centers and their impact on short- and long-term outcomes. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to develop recommendations for preventing the most significant HAIs after durable VAD implantation. The study has 3 specific aims: (1) identify determinants of center-level variability in HAI rates, (2) develop comprehensive understanding of barriers and facilitators for achieving low center-level HAI rates, and (3) develop and disseminate a best practices toolkit for preventing HAIs that accommodates various center contexts. METHODS: This is a sequential mixed methods study starting with a cross-sectional assessment of current practices. To address aim 1, we will conduct (1) a systematic review of HAI prevention studies and (2) in-depth quantitative analyses using administrative claims, in-depth clinical data, and organizational surveys of VAD centers. For aim 2, we will apply a mixed methods patient tracer assessment framework to conduct semistructured interviews, field observations, and document analysis informed by findings from aim 1 at 5 high-performing (ie, low HAIs) and 5 low-performing (ie, high HAI) centers, which will be examined using a mixed methods case series analysis. For aim 3, we will build upon the findings from the previous aims to develop and field test an HAI preventive toolkit, acquire stakeholder input at an annual cardiac surgical conference, disseminate the final version to VAD centers nationwide, and conduct follow-up surveys to assess the toolkit's adoption. RESULTS: The project was funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality in 2018 and enrollment for the overall project is ongoing. Data analysis is currently under way and the first results are expected to be submitted for publication in 2019. CONCLUSIONS: This mixed methods study seeks to quantitatively assess the determinants of HAIs across clinical centers and qualitatively identify the context-specific facilitators and barriers for attaining low HAI rates. The mixed data findings will be used to develop and disseminate a stakeholder-acceptable toolkit of evidence-based HAI prevention recommendations that will accommodate the specific contexts and needs of VAD centers. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): PRR1-10.2196/14701.

Collaborative Quality Improvement Reduces Postoperative Pneumonia After Isolated Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Surgery.

BACKGROUND: To date, studies evaluating outcome improvements associated with participation in physician-led collaboratives have been limited by the absence of a contemporaneous control group. We examined post cardiac surgery pneumonia rates associated with participation in a statewide, quality improvement collaborative relative to a national physician reporting program. METHODS AND RESULTS: We evaluated 911 754 coronary artery bypass operations (July 1, 2011, to June 30, 2017) performed across 1198 hospitals participating in a voluntary national physician reporting program (Society of Thoracic Surgeons [STS]), including 33 that participated in a Michigan-based collaborative (MI-Collaborative). Unlike STS hospitals not participating in the MI-Collaborative (i.e., STSnonMI) that solely received blinded reports, MI-Collaborative hospitals received a multi-faceted intervention starting November 2012 (quarterly in-person meetings showcasing unblinded data, webinars, site visits). Eighteen of the MI-Collaborative hospitals received additional support to implement recommended pneumonia prevention practices ("MI-CollaborativePlus"), whereas 15 did not ("MI-CollaborativeOnly"). We evaluated rates of postoperative pneumonia, adjusting for patient mix and hospital effects. Baseline patient characteristics were qualitatively similar between groups and time. During the preintervention period (Q3/2011 through Q3/2012), there was no statistically significant difference in the adjusted odds of pneumonia for STS hospitals participating in the MI-Collaborative compared to the STS non-MI hospitals. However, during the intervention period (Q4/2012 through Q2/2017), there was a significant 2% reduction per quarter in the adjusted odds of pneumonia for MI-Collaborative hospitals (n=33) relative to the STS-nonMI hospitals. There was a significant 3% per quarter reduction in the adjusted odds of pneumonia for the MI-CollaborativeOnly (n=15) hospitals relative to the STS-nonMI hospitals. Over the course of the overall study period, the STS-nonMI hospitals had a 1.96% reduction in risk-adjusted pneumonia (pre- vs. intervention periods), which was less than the MI-Collaborative (3.23%, P=0.011). Over the same time period, the MI-CollaborativePlus (n=18) reduced adjusted pneumonia rates by 10.29%, P=0.001. CONCLUSIONS: Participation in a physician-led collaborative was associated with significant reductions in pneumonia relative to a national quality reporting program. Interventions including collaborative learning may yield superior outcomes relative to solely using physician feedback reporting. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT02068716.

Urinary Catheter-Associated Infections.

Catheter-associated urinary tract infection remains one of the most prevalent, yet preventable, health care-associated infections. General prevention strategies include strict adherence to hand hygiene and antimicrobial stewardship. Duration of urinary catheterization is the most important modifiable risk factor. Targeted prevention strategies include limiting urinary catheter use; physician reminder systems, nurse-initiated discontinuation protocols, and automatic stop orders have successfully decreased catheter duration. Alternatives should be considered. If catheterization is necessary, proper aseptic practices for insertion and maintenance and closed catheter collection systems are essential for prevention. The use of bladder bundles and collaboratives aids in the effective implementation of prevention measures.

Urinary Tract Infections.

Catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) remains one of the most prevalent, yet preventable, health care-associated infections and predominantly occurs in patients with indwelling urinary catheters. Targeted strategies for prevention of CAUTI include limiting urinary catheter use; physician reminder systems, nurse-initiated discontinuation protocols, and automatic stop orders have successfully decreased catheter duration. Alternatives to indwelling catheters should be considered in appropriate patients. If indwelling catheterization is necessary, proper aseptic practices for catheter insertion and maintenance and closed catheter collection system is essential for preventing CAUTI. The use of "bladder bundles" and collaboratives aids in the effective implementation of CAUTI prevention measures.

Effect of an antimicrobial stewardship intervention on outcomes for patients with Clostridium difficile infection.

BACKGROUND: Although antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) are uniquely positioned to improve treatment of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) through targeted interventions, studies to date have not rigorously evaluated the influence of ASP involvement on clinical outcomes attributed to CDI. METHODS: We performed a quasiexperimental study of adult patients with CDI before (n = 307) and after (n = 285) a real-time ASP review was initiated. In the intervention group, an ASP pharmacist was notified of positive CDI results and consulted with the care team to initiate optimal therapy, minimize concomitant antibiotic and acid-suppressive therapy, and recommend surgical/infectious diseases consultation in complicated cases. The primary outcome was a composite of attributable 30-day mortality, intensive care unit admission, colectomy/ileostomy, and recurrence. RESULTS: A higher percentage of patients in the ASP intervention group had acid-suppressive therapy discontinued (30% vs 13%; P < .01). Among patients with severe CDI, more patients in the intervention group received an infectious diseases consultation (17% vs 10%; P = .04), received appropriate therapy with oral vancomycin (87% vs 59%; P <.01), and vancomycin was initiated earlier (mean, 1.1 vs 1.7 days; P <.01). Incidence of the composite outcome was not significantly different between the 2 groups (12.3% vs 14.7%; P = .40). CONCLUSIONS: ASP review and intervention improved CDI process measures. A decrease in composite outcomes was not found, which may be due to low baseline rates of attributable complications in our institution.

Central line-associated bloodstream infections in non-ICU inpatient wards: a 2-year analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Little is known about patient-specific factors contributing to central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) outside of the intensive care unit (ICU). We sought to describe these factors and hypothesized that dialysis patients would comprise a significant proportion of this cohort. DESIGN: Retrospective observational study from January 2010 to December 2011. SETTING: An 880-bed tertiary teaching hospital. PATIENTS: Patients with CLABSI in non-ICU wards. METHODS: CLABSI patients were identified from existing infection-control databases and primary chart review was conducted. National Health and Safety Network (NHSN) definitions were utilized for CLABSI and pathogen classification. CLABSI rates were calculated per patient day. Total mortality rates were inclusive of hospice patients. RESULTS: Over a 2-year period, 104 patients incurred 113 CLABSIs for an infection rate of 0.35 per 1,000 patient days. The mean length of hospital stay prior to CLABSI was 16±13.3 days, which was nearly 3 times that of hospital-wide non-ICU length of stay. Only 11 patients (10.6%) received dialysis within 48 hours of CLABSI. However, 67% of patients had a hematologic malignancy, and 91.8% of those admitted with a malignant hematologic diagnosis were neutropenic at the time of CLABSI. Enterococcus spp. was the most common organism recovered, and half of all central venous catheters (CVCs) present were peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC lines). Mortality rates were 18.3% overall and 27.3% among dialysis patients. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with CLABSIs outside of the ICU, only 10.6% received dialysis prior to infection. However, underlying hematologic malignancy, neutropenia, and PICC lines were highly prevalent in this population.

Variation in infection prevention practices in dialysis facilities: results from the national opportunity to improve infection control in ESRD (End-Stage Renal Disease) project.

OBJECTIVE To observe patient care across hemodialysis facilities enrolled in the National Opportunity to Improve Infection Control in ESRD (end-stage renal disease) (NOTICE) project in order to evaluate adherence to evidence-based practices aimed at prevention of infection. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS Thirty-four hemodialysis facilities were randomly selected from among 772 facilities in 4 end-stage renal disease participating networks. Facility selection was stratified on dialysis organization affiliation, size, socioeconomic status, and urban/rural status. MEASUREMENTS Trained infection control evaluators used an infection control worksheet to observe 73 distinct infection control practices at the hemodialysis facilities, from October 1, 2011, through January 31, 2012. RESULTS There was considerable variation in infection control practices across enrolled facilities. Overall adherence to recommended practices was 68% (range, 45%-92%) across all facilities. Overall adherence to expected hand hygiene practice was 72% (range, 10%-100%). Compliance to hand hygiene before and after procedures was high; however, during procedures hand hygiene compliance averaged 58%. Use of chlorhexidine as the specific agent for exit site care was 19% overall but varied from 0% to 35% by facility type. The 8 checklists varied in the frequency of perfect performance from 0% for meeting every item on the checklist for disinfection practices to 22% on the arteriovenous access practices at initiation. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that there are many areas for improvement in hand hygiene and other infection prevention practices in end-stage renal disease. These NOTICE project findings will help inform the development of a larger quality improvement initiative at dialysis facilities.

Diagnosis, management, and prevention of catheter-associated urinary tract infections.

Catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) is common, costly, and causes significant patient morbidity. CAUTIs are associated with hospital pathogens with a high propensity toward antimicrobial resistance. Treatment of asymptomatic patients with CAUTI accounts for excess antimicrobial use in hospitals and should be avoided. Duration of urinary catheterization is the predominant risk for CAUTI; preventive measures directed at limiting placement and early removal of urinary catheters have an impact on decreasing CAUTI rates. The use of bladder bundles and collaboratives, coupled with the support and active engagement from both hospital leaders and followers, seem to help prevent this common problem.

Baseline measure of alcohol-based skin preparation agents before 2011 National Quality Forum recommendation in a general surgery population.

The National Quality Forum (2011) recommends the use of alcohol-based skin preparation agents before surgery to help prevent infections. This multihospital study (n = 3,794) evaluates its use in a general surgery patient population before the National Quality Forum recommendation. Forty-seven percent of cases received an alcohol-based skin preparation agent.

Iatrogenic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease via surgical instruments.

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a neurodegenerative prion disease that can spread via contaminated neurosurgical instruments previously used on an infected patient. We examine current guidelines on how to recognize, handle, and prevent instrument-related iatrogenic CJD. Despite only four reported patients worldwide implicating contaminated neurosurgical instruments, and none in the past 30 years, the public health consequences of potential instrument-related iatrogenic CJD can be far-reaching. Conventional sterilization and disinfection methods are inadequate in reducing prion infectivity of contaminated instruments, and World Health Organization recommendations for disinfection using bleach or sodium hydroxide are often impractical for routine decontamination. Recently, possible CJD exposure via infected surgical instruments was suspected at a large teaching hospital. Although CJD was later disproven, the intervening investigation exposed the difficulty in tracking infected surgical instruments and in protecting subsequent surgical patients from prion infection. To identify patients at risk for iatrogenic CJD, infectivity of instruments after this index patient is estimated using simple scenario modeling, assuming a certain log reduction of infectivity for each cleansing cycle. Scenario modeling predicts that after six cycles of instrument use with conventional cleansing following an index patient, other patients are highly unlikely to be at risk for iatrogenic CJD. Despite its rarity, the threat of iatrogenic CJD transmission via contaminated instruments poses tremendous challenges to neurosurgeons. Basic prevention strategies should be employed for patients with suspected CJD, including use of disposable instruments where possible and quarantining non-disposable instruments until the diagnosis is ascertained, or using special instrument reprocessing methods if CJD is suspected.

Impact of postplacement adjustment of peripherally inserted central catheters on the risk of bloodstream infection and venous thrombus formation.

OBJECTIVE: Peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) tip malposition is potentially associated with complications, and postplacement adjustment of PICCs is widely performed. We sought to characterize the association between central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) or venous thrombus (VT) and PICC adjustment. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: University of Michigan Health System, a large referral hospital. PATIENTS: Patients who had PICCs placed between February 2007 and August 2007. METHODS: The primary outcomes were development of CLABSI within 14 days or VT within 60 days of postplacement PICC adjustment, identified by review of patient electronic medical records. RESULTS: There were 57 CLABSIs (2.69/1,000 PICC-days) and 47 VTs (1.23/1,000 PICC-days); 609 individuals had 1, 134 had 2, and 33 had 3 or more adjustments. One adjustment was protective against CLABSI (P=.04), whereas 2 or 3 or more adjustments had no association with CLABSI (P=.58 and .47, respectively). One, 2, and 3 or more adjustments had no association with VT formation (P=.59, .85, and .78, respectively). Immunosuppression (P<.01), power-injectable PICCs (P=.05), and 3 PICC lumens compared with 1 lumen (P=.02) were associated with CLABSI. Power-injectable PICCs were also associated with increased VT formation (P=.03). CONCLUSIONS: Immunosuppression and 3 PICC lumens were associated with increased risk of CLABSI. Power-injectable PICCs were associated with increased risk of CLABSI and VT formation. Postplacement adjustment of PICCs was not associated with increased risk of CLABSI or VT.