Risk factors for catheter related thrombosis during outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy.

BACKGROUND: Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) delivery using peripherally inserted central catheters is associated with a risk of catheter related thrombosis (CRT). Individualised preventative interventions may reduce this occurrence, however patient selection is hampered by a lack of understanding of risk factors. We aimed to identify patient, infection or treatment related risk factors for CRT in the OPAT setting. METHODS: Retrospective case control study (1:3 matching) within OPAT services at two tertiary hospitals within Australia. RESULTS: Over a 2 year period, encompassing OPAT delivery to 1803 patients, there were 19 cases of CRT, giving a prevalence of 1.1% and incidence of 0.58/1000 catheter days. Amongst the cases of CRT, there were nine (47%) unplanned readmissions and two (11%) pulmonary emboli. Compared to controls, cases had a higher frequency of malposition of the catheter tip (4/19 (21%) vs 0/57 (0%), p = 0.003) and complicated catheter insertion (3/19 (16%) vs 1/57 (2%), p = 0.046). CONCLUSIONS: Although CRTs during OPAT are infrequent, they often have clinically significant sequelae. Identification of modifiable vascular access related predictors of CRT should assist with patient risk stratification and guide risk reduction strategies.

Catheter to vein ratio and risk of peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC)-associated thrombosis according to diagnostic group: a retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: Determine the effect of the catheter to vein ratio (CVR) on rates of symptomatic thrombosis in individuals with a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) and identify the optimal CVR cut-off point according to diagnostic group. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: 4 tertiary hospitals in Australia and New Zealand. PARTICIPANTS: Adults who had undergone PICC insertion. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURE: Symptomatic thrombus of the limb in which the PICC was inserted. RESULTS: 2438 PICC insertions were included with 39 cases of thrombosis (1.6%; 95% CI 1.14% to 2.19%). Receiver operator characteristic analysis was unable to be performed to determine the optimal CVR overall or according to diagnosis. The association between risk of thrombosis and CVR cut-offs commonly used in clinical practice were analysed. A 45% cut-off (≤45% versus ≥46%) was predictive of thrombosis, with those with a higher ratio having more than twice the risk (relative risk 2.30; 95% CI 1.202 to 4.383; p=0.01). This pattern continued when only those with malignancy were included in the analysis, those with cancer had twice the risk of thrombosis with a CVR greater than 45%. Whereas the 33% CVR cut-off was not associated with statistically significant results overall or in those with malignancy. Neither the 33% or 45% CVR cut-off produced statistically significant results in those with infection or other non-malignant conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Adherence to CVR cut-offs are an important component of PICC insertion clinical decision making to reduce the risk of thrombosis. These results suggest that in individuals with cancer, the use of a CVR ≤45% should be considered to minimise risk of thrombosis. Further research is needed to determine the risk of thrombosis according to malignancy type and the optimal CVR for those with a non-malignant diagnosis.

A NONSENSE GATA6 MUTATION EXPLAINS HISTORY OF CONGENITAL HEART DEFECTS AND 10 YEARS OF POORLY-CONTROLLED DIABETES LACKING DKA IN A NON-OBESE 30 YEAR-OLD INCIDENTALLY FOUND TO HAVE PANCREATIC HYPOPLASIA.

OBJECTIVE: To report a case of diabetes mellitus (DM) associated with partial pancreatic agenesis and congenital heart disease (CHD) in a patient found to have a nonsense mutation of the GATA6 gene. METHODS: We present the imaging, laboratory, and genetic findings, and describe the clinical course of a patient with an atypical presentation of DM as well as CHD, who was found to have partial pancreatic agenesis on computed tomography (CT) imaging. Genetic testing was performed to identify monogenic DM. RESULTS: A 30-year-old nonobese female with a waxing and waning pattern of insulin-dependent DM diagnosed at the age of 20 was found to have partial pancreatic agenesis on CT scan. It was unclear whether the patient was experiencing undetected hyperglycemia prior to initial diagnosis of DM. She had no history of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) despite poorly-controlled diabetes and years without insulin treatment. The patient also had congenital tricuspid atresia, ventricular septal defect, and transposition of the great vessels with surgical correction in childhood. Partial pancreatic agenesis and CHD with atypical DM prompted genetic testing for monogenic DM, and a nonsense mutation of the GATA6 (c.1242C>A, p.C414*) gene was found. CONCLUSION: GATA6 mutations are associated with a broad spectrum of diabetic phenotypes, pancreatic agenesis, and a variety of CHDs. This case highlights the importance of considering monogenic diabetes in young, nonobese patients with diabetes, particularly with negative pancreatic antibodies and no history of DKA. Further, this case demonstrates the importance of testing for GATA6 mutations in any young patient with diabetes and CHD.

Integrated versus nOn-integrated Peripheral inTravenous catheter. Which Is the most effective systeM for peripheral intravenoUs catheter Management? (The OPTIMUM study): a randomised controlled trial protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Peripheral intravenous catheters (PIVCs) are frequently used in hospitals. However, PIVC complications are common, with failures leading to treatment delays, additional procedures, patient pain and discomfort, increased clinician workload and substantially increased healthcare costs. Recent evidence suggests integrated PIVC systems may be more effective than traditional non-integrated PIVC systems in reducing phlebitis, infiltration and costs and increasing functional dwell time. The study aim is to determine the efficacy, cost-utility and acceptability to patients and professionals of an integrated PIVC system compared with a non-integrated PIVC system. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Two-arm, multicentre, randomised controlled superiority trial of integrated versus non-integrated PIVC systems to compare effectiveness on clinical and economic outcomes. Recruitment of 1560 patients over 2 years, with randomisation by a centralised service ensuring allocation concealment. Primary outcomes: catheter failure (composite endpoint) for reasons of: occlusion, infiltration/extravasation, phlebitis/thrombophlebitis, dislodgement, localised or catheter-associated bloodstream infections. SECONDARY OUTCOMES: first time insertion success, types of PIVC failure, device colonisation, insertion pain, functional dwell time, adverse events, mortality, cost-utility and consumer acceptability. One PIVC per patient will be included, with intention-to-treat analysis. Baseline group comparisons will be made for potentially clinically important confounders. The proportional hazards assumption will be checked, and Cox regression will test the effect of group, patient, device and clinical variables on failure. An as-treated analysis will assess the effect of protocol violations. Kaplan-Meier survival curves with log-rank tests will compare failure by group over time. Secondary endpoints will be compared between groups using parametric/non-parametric techniques. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval from the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC/16/QRBW/527), Griffith University Human Research Ethics Committee (Ref No. 2017/002) and the South Metropolitan Health Services Human Research Ethics Committee (Ref No. 2016-239). Results will be published in peer-reviewed journals. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ACTRN12617000089336.