HAIs

Healthcare-acquired infection (HAi) ranks within the 10 leading causes of death in the United States. More than 20 percent of all hospital acquired infection can be attributed to the infection of a surgical site. Although SSI occurs in approximately 2 percent of surgical procedures, infection rates vary widely, according to the type of procedure. At any given time, about 1 in every 20 inpatients has an infection related to hospital care. These infections cost the U.S. healthcare system billions of dollars each year and lead to the loss of tens of thousands of lives. In addition, HAIs can have devastating emotional, financial and medical consequences.

Healthcare-associated infections (HAI) remain a major cause of morbidity and mortality. HAIs impose significant burdens patient pain and suffering (including adverse sequelae), patient-care time and resources, risk for patient and practitioner cross-infection, and economic consequences, to name just a few. This is not happening in a vacuum, not only is this occurring in the U.S. healthcare system but also in numerous countries across the global stage. HAIs are considered a common cause of morbidity and mortality today and are ranked high among the most common adverse events in U.S. healthcare.(1)

The confluence of recent economic factors and emerging clinical evidence now makes the use of central venous access devices (CVADs) far less desirable than in the past. Conversely, the same factors and facts greatly enhance the appeal of midline catheterscatheters measuring 3 to 8 inches in length, inserted in an upper arm vein and with tip location distal to the shoulder.(1,2) Evidence now demonstrates that certain Midlines offer patients the possibility of full length of stay infusion therapy, with reduced risk of bloodstream infection and avoidance of repetitive needlesticks for labs and restarts. Thus, in many cases, midlines are becoming the go-to device for safe, uninterrupted intravenous (IV) therapy.