Impact of a formal removal policy for central venous catheters on duration of catheterisation

John R Gowardman,* Catherine Kelaher,^† Joy Whiting,^‡ Peter J Collignon^§

1 Launceston, TAS 7250)
4 The Canberra Hospital, Canberra, ACT, and Professor, Canberra Clinical School, Australian National University, ACT, and University of Sydney, NSW.

Correspondence: john.gowardman@dhhs.tas.gov.au

1. O’Grady NP, Alexander M, Dellinger EP, et al. Guidelines for the prevention of intravascular catheter-related infections. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. MMWR Recomm Rep 2002; 51 (RR-10): 1-26.
2. Collignon PJ. Intravascular catheter associated sepsis: a common problem. The Australian Study on Intravascular Catheter Associated Sepsis. Med J Aust 1994; 161: 374-378.
3. Trick WE, Vernon MO, Welbel SF, et al. Unnecessary use of central venous catheters: the need to look outside the intensive care unit. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2004; 25: 266-269.
4. McLaws ML, Taylor PC. The hospital Infection Standardised Surveillance (HISS) programme: analysis of a two-year pilot. J Hosp Infect 2003; 53: 259-267.
5. Gowardman JR, Brosnan M, Whiting J, Collignon P. Central venous catheters: optimal patient care or convenience? [letter]. Med J Aust 2004; 180: 595-596. <MJA full text>

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