Optimal timing for intravascular administration set replacement.

Background: The tubing (administration set) attached to both venous and arterial catheters may contribute to bacteraemia and other infections. The rate of infection may be increased or decreased by routine replacement of administration sets. This review was originally published in 2005 and was updated in 2012.

Assessing core outcomes in graduates: psychometric evaluation of the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit-Nursing Knowledge and Skills Test.

Aim: To develop and psychometrically test the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit-Nursing Knowledge and Skills Test - a multiple-choice test for measuring the key nursing knowledge and skills required for safe, competent practice.

Background: Intensive care graduate nurse residency or orientation programmes are key strategies in the development of safe and competent practitioners. Essential to these programmes is an evaluation of knowledge and skills.

Genome Sequence of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia Strain AU12-09, Isolated from an Intravascular Catheter.

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is an opportunistic nosocomial pathogen that is characterized by its high-level intrinsic resistance to a variety of antibiotics and its ability to form biofilms. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia AU12-09, isolated from an intravascular catheter tip.

Clinically-indicated replacement versus routine replacement of peripheral venous catheters.

Background: US Centers for Disease Control guidelines recommend replacement of peripheral intravenous (IV) catheters no more frequently than every 72 to 96 hours. Routine replacement is thought to reduce the risk of phlebitis and bloodstream infection. Catheter insertion is an unpleasant experience for patients and replacement may be unnecessary if the catheter remains functional and there are no signs of inflammation.

Analysing the role of the PICU nurse to guide education of new graduate nurses.

Background: One strategy to address the current nursing shortage in specialty areas has been to introduce graduate nurse programs. However introducing novice nurses to specialty areas raises concerns around education and competency which, in turn, highlights the need to identify and prioritise the elements of competent paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) nursing care considered essential to safe practice.

Objectives: To determine the key knowledge, skills and attributes of competent level PICU nurses.

Replacement of administration sets (including transducers) for peripheral arterial catheters: a systematic review.

Aims And Objectives: This article presents a systematic review of the evidence for the optimal interval for replacement of administration sets for peripheral arterial catheters.

Background: Peripheral arterial catheters are attached to administration sets, including transducers, which are changed routinely in some hospitals on the understanding that prolonged duration of administration sets use may cause a higher incidence of infection.

Design: Systematic review.

Genome sequence of Staphylococcus epidermidis strain AU12-03, isolated from an intravascular catheter.

In recent years, Staphylococcus epidermidis has become a major nosocomial pathogen and the most common cause of intravascular catheter-related bacteremia, which can increase morbidity and mortality and significantly affect patient recovery. We report a draft genome sequence of Staphylococcus epidermidis AU12-03, isolated from an intravascular catheter tip.

A worldwide investigation of critical care research coordinators' self-reported role and professional development priorities: the winner survey.

Aims And Objectives: To describe the self-reported role and professional development priorities of research coordinators in different regions of the world.

Background: Research coordinators employed in critical care settings provide clinical and technical expertise in the development, conduct and completion of clinical research studies. Knowledge of this specialised role is well established in some parts of the world, yet emerging in others.

A comparative assessment of two conservative methods for the diagnosis of catheter-related infection in critically ill patients.

Purpose: To assess the utility of two in situ techniques, differential time to positivity (DTP) and semiquantitative superficial cultures (SQSC) for diagnosing catheter-related bloodstream infection (CR-BSI) in critically ill adults.

Methods: This was a prospective cohort study in patients with suspected CR-BSI arising from a short-term arterial catheter (AC) or a central venous catheter (CVC). On suspicion of CR-BSI, devices were removed.

A snapshot of guideline compliance reveals room for improvement: a survey of peripheral arterial catheter practices in Australian operating theatres.

Aim: To report a study in Australian operating theatres of compliance by the anaesthetic team with best peripheral arterial catheter practice for blood gas sampling and infection prevention. Comparisons are made with research recommendations and Centres for Disease Control Guidelines.

Background: There is wide global usage of peripheral arterial catheters in the operating theatre for haemodynamic monitoring and blood gas analysis.

Routine versus clinically indicated replacement of peripheral intravenous catheters: a randomised controlled equivalence trial.

Background: The millions of peripheral intravenous catheters used each year are recommended for 72-96 h replacement in adults. This routine replacement increases health-care costs and staff workload and requires patients to undergo repeated invasive procedures. The effectiveness of the practice is not well established.

Measuring paediatric intensive care nursing knowledge in Australia and New Zealand: how the Basic Knowledge Assessment Tool for pediatric critical care nurses (PEDS-BKAT4) performs.

Validated professional knowledge measures are limited in paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) nursing. The Basic Knowledge Assessment Tool for Pediatric Critical Care Nurses (PEDS-BKAT4) measures knowledge, however content and practice differences exist between various PICUs. The study aim was to evaluate the PEDS-BKAT4 in the Australian and New Zealand setting.

Towards improved organisational support for nurses working in research roles in the clinical setting: a mixed method investigation.

Background: The clinical research workforce within nursing is growing including those employed to lead studies, coordinate research and many hybrid roles. Several studies have reported high job satisfaction among research nurses. However, there have also been reports of limited options for career development and professional integration, likely reflecting typical informal, departmentally based management models.

Gauze and tape and transparent polyurethane dressings for central venous catheters.

Background: Central venous catheters (CVCs) facilitate venous access, allowing the intravenous administration of complex drug treatments, blood products and nutritional support, without the trauma associated with repeated venepuncture. However, CVCs are associated with a risk of infection. Some studies have indicated that the type of dressing used with them may affect the risk of infection.

Impact of microbial attachment on intravascular catheter-related infections.

Intravascular catheters (IVCs) are the most frequently used medical devices in hospitals. However, they are associated with life-threatening IVC-related bloodstream infection (IVC-BSI), which is one of the main hospital-acquired infections, and continue to be associated with morbidity, mortality and additional medical cost. Most published studies focus on measuring the rate of IVC-BSIs and addressing their importance, but only a few studies have mentioned the possible routes for microbes entering the bloodstream, which would help in developing effective prevention methods, and large trial studies are lacking.

Intensive Care Research Coordinators in Australia and New Zealand: a cross-sectional survey of demographics, responsibilities, job satisfaction and importance.

Introduction: The achievement of successful clinical research projects depends on multiple team members including Research Coordinators (RCs), who are the link between the researcher and the trial participants. The RCs main responsibility is to ensure that all research is conducted according to the appropriate protocols, regulations and guidelines.

Aim: Description of demographics, the role and associated responsibilities and assessment of items of importance to, and satisfaction with, various job related items.

The intensive care research coordinator position in Australia and New Zealand: Self-perception of professional development priorities and "best" and "worst" aspects of the position. A cross-sectional web-based study.

Background: Many intensive care units (ICU) research coordinators (RCs) work in isolation with limited access to professional development and peer support.

Aims: (1) To map professional development priorities and "best" and "worst" aspects of the ICU RC role. (2) To compare results of "best" and "worst" aspects to a similar 2004 study.

Microbiological pattern of arterial catheters in the intensive care unit.

Background: Intravascular catheter related infection (CRI) is one of the most serious nosocomial infections. Diagnostic criteria include a positive culture from the catheter tip along with blood, yet in many patients with signs of infection, current culture techniques fail to identify pathogens on catheter segments. We hypothesised that a molecular examination of the bacterial community on short term arterial catheters (ACs) would improve our understanding of the variety of organisms that are present in this niche environment and would help develop new methods for the diagnosis of CRI.

Routine resite of peripheral intravenous devices every 3 days did not reduce complications compared with clinically indicated resite: a randomised controlled trial.

Background: Peripheral intravenous device (IVD) complications were traditionally thought to be reduced by limiting dwell time. Current recommendations are to resite IVDs by 96 hours with the exception of children and patients with poor veins. Recent evidence suggests routine resite is unnecessary, at least if devices are inserted by a specialised IV team.

Clinically-indicated replacement versus routine replacement of peripheral venous catheters.

Background: Centers for Disease Control Guidelines recommend replacement of peripheral intravenous (IV) catheters every 72 to 96 hours. Routine replacement is thought to reduce the risk of phlebitis and bacteraemia. Catheter insertion is an unpleasant experience for patients and replacement may be unnecessary if the catheter remains functional and there are no signs of inflammation.

The relationship between intravenous infusate colonisation and fluid container hang time.

Aims: To examine the level of microbial colonisation in intravenous fluids after 24 hours of use in an acute care setting to determine the necessity of changing infusate bags on a time-related basis.

Background: Catheter-related bloodstream infections are a serious and life-threatening complication of intravascular devices. Colonised intravenous fluids are one potential source of infection; however, there is little published literature on incidence rates and few recent studies.

Routine replacement versus clinical monitoring of peripheral intravenous catheters in a regional hospital in the home program: A randomized controlled trial.

This randomized, controlled trial involving 316 patients in the home setting found no difference in the rate of phlebitis and/or occlusion among patients for whom a peripheral intravenous catheter was routinely resited at 72-96 hours and those for whom it was replaced only on clinical indication (76.8 events per 1,000 device-days vs 87.3 events per 1,000 device-days; P = .

Supporting academic publication: evaluation of a writing course combined with writers' support group.

Publication rates are a vital measure of individual and institutional performance, yet many nurse academics publish rarely or not at all. Despite widespread acceptance of the need to increase academic publication rates and the pressure university faculty may experience to fulfil this obligation, little is known about the effectiveness of practical strategies to support academic writing. In this small cohort study (n=8) comprising nurses and other professionals involved in university education, a questionnaire survey was used to evaluate the effectiveness of a one-week "Writing for Publication" course combined with a monthly writers support group to increase publication rates.