Ken’s experience shows the real impact that unnecessary or poorly explained cannulation can have on patients. It reinforces why careful clinical assessment and clear, patient-centred communication matter as outlined in the 2021 Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care Management of Peripheral Intravenous Catheters Clinical Care Standard, particularly Quality Statements 1 and 2.
Quality Statement 7 – Document decisions and care
A patient with a PIVC will have documentation of its insertion, maintenance and removal, and regular review of the insertion site.
More Real Life Story
James’ Story
James was admitted to the ward and had multiple PIVC insertions over the course of his four-day admission. Documentation relating to PIVC insertion, assessment, and removal was consistently poor.
On day 3, James developed skin changes and bruising around one cannula site; however, the device was not removed until the following day.
By day 4, James deteriorated clinically and developed sepsis. Blood cultures returned positive for methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), confirming Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia (SAB).
Poor documentation and suboptimal PIVC management made it difficult to definitively attribute the source of infection; however, a PIVC-related source was considered the most likely cause of the SAB.
This story aligns with ACSQHC Quality Statement 1, 7 and 10.