Setting the National Agenda for Better PIVC Care in Australia

Peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) care in Australia remains inconsistent and suboptimal, often leading to preventable patient harm. This priority-setting study aimed to identify infection prevention and control (IPC) strategies to improve PIVC care and guide a national agenda for action.

Study Overview
The study engaged 65 multidisciplinary clinicians in a structured process to identify top priorities for improving PIVC practices in Australian healthcare settings. Participants included nurses, infection prevention professionals, researchers, and policy stakeholders.

Key Findings
Nine priority themes emerged, with key strategies to drive meaningful change:

• Greater consumer engagement in vascular access decisions
• Reducing low-value and outdated practices
• Creation of standardised, evidence-informed clinical resources
• Strengthening national leadership and consistent policy guidance
• Encouraging multidisciplinary collaboration to break down care silos

The study emphasized that variation in training, unclear policies, and competing clinical priorities continue to undermine PIVC care.

Conclusion
Improving PIVC care requires more than clinical skill—it needs coordinated system-wide leadership and active engagement from patients, clinicians, and policymakers alike. This study provides a clear, clinician-informed roadmap for reducing harm and improving outcomes through better vascular access management.

Read More:https://www.idhjournal.com.au/article/S2468-0451(25)00046-X/abstract  

Authors: Sally M. Havers, Claire M. Rickard, Josephine Lovegrove, Andrew J. Stewardson, Diana Egerton-Warburton, Rebecca L. McCann, Gillian Ray-Barruel, Karen M. Davies, Christine Brown, Samuel M. Mathias, Jessica A. Schults