PICC Line and Outpatient Antibiotic Treatment

A peripherally inserted central catheter is placed when patients require long-term antibiotic treatment and may remain in place for a year and sometimes longer. We order patients a PICC line if we are planning to administer IV antibiotics for longer than a few weeks or for certain medications that cannot be administered through a midline. 

Blood draws may be obtained via a PICC line, which results in greater patient satisfaction due to decreased needle sticks. 

Your home infusion company will provide dressing change supplies to be used by the home healthcare nurse performing weekly dressing changes.

A midline catheter may by placed when patients require IV antibiotic treatment lasting less than a month and consists of an antibiotic appropriate for midline infusions, as some medications can only be given via a PICC line. 

Blood draws should not be obtained via a midline catheter, as this can result in premature failure of the line. Cath flo (a clot buster) medication cannot be used to clear an occluded midline.

Your home infusion company will provide dressing change supplies to be used by the home healthcare nurse performing weekly dressing changes.