Insertion and Management of Peripheral Intravenous Cannulae in Healthcare Facilities Policy
MP 0038/16 - Insertion and Management of Peripheral Intravenous Cannulae in Healthcare Facilities Policy (pdf 123KB)
Applicable to: This policy is applicable to the following Health Service Providers: North Metropolitan Health Service, South Metropolitan Health Service, East Metropolitan Health Service, Child and Adolescent Health Service and WA Country Health Service.
Description: The Insertion and Management of Peripheral Intravenous Cannulae in Healthcare Facilities Policy describes the mandatory requirements to minimise the risk of infection to patients associated with the insertion of peripheral intravenous cannulae (PIVC).
PIVCs provide direct access to the patient’s bloodstream and therefore pose a serious risk for infection from microorganisms introduced either at the time of insertion or while the cannula is in situ. PIVC-related infections are associated with increased morbidity and mortality, prolonged hospital stays and additional healthcare costs. Infections associated with PIVCs are considered preventable adverse events.
In addition, consistent data from Healthcare Infection Surveillance WA show that most healthcare-associated Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections (HA-SABSIs) occur as a result of intravascular devices (IVD), with a large percentage of these attributable to PIVCs. This finding is despite the availability of local Health Service Provider clinical practice standards, policies and guidelines. This policy ensures there is a standardised approach to the insertion and management of PIVCs and removes variation in practice across Western Australian healthcare facilities.
The policy supports the requirements of the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards Preventing and Controlling Infections Standard for health organisations to develop and implement systems for the use and management of invasive devices.
This policy should be read in conjunction with MP 0122/19 Clinical Incident Management Policy and MP 0108/19 Healthcare Associated Infection Surveillance Policy.
This policy is a mandatory requirement under the Public Health Policy Framework pursuant to section 26(2)(c) of the Health Services Act 2016.
Date of effect: 11 October 2022
Policy Framework
Public Health
Communicable Disease Control Directorate: Guideline Insertion and Management of Peripheral Intravenous Cannulae in Healthcare Facilities
Reporting of healthcare-associated Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections as a severity assessment code 1 (SAC1)
Healthcare Infection Surveillance of Western Australia (HISWA) (version 8, January 2022, Department of Health, Western Australia
National Safety and Quality Health Services Standards (second edition). Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare (ACSQHC)
Management of Peripheral Intravenous Catheters Clinical Care Standard. National Safety and Quality Health Services Standards. Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare (ACSQHC) (2021)