PICCs and Midlines - Vygon (UK)

The Vygon range ofperipherally insertedcatheters providessafe and reliablevascular access.They are intended for use in patients whorequire mid to long-term IV therapy, andmay be used to administer fluids, antibiotics,chemotherapy, parenteral nutrition, painmanagement drugs, and for blood sampling.Vygon specialises in vascular access devicesmade from biostable polyurethane, whichoffers enhanced mechanical and biochemicalstability throughout treatment. Catheters madefrom polyurethane have the advantage ofproviding extra stiffness, which aids insertion,and then become soft and pliable at bodytemperature.Outpatient ParenteralAntimicrobial Therapy (OPAT) 1OPAT services allow patients who are medically stable, and whose only reason foradmission is the requirement for IV antibiotic therapy, to be treated in an outpatientsetting. The key objective of an OPAT service is to manage patients with infectionssafely and effectively as outpatients, ensuring their treatment is optimised,appropriately delivered and supervised, and that the risks are minimised.Patient benefits:3 Improved patient satisfaction3 Decreased hospital acquired infections, including Clostridium difficile3 Reduced length of stay in hospital/admission avoidance3 Prevents social/psychological problems associated with admission3 Allows choice of therapy to suit individual needs3 Delivery of care in greater comfort and privacy3 More rapid return to normality, in terms of work and education.Hospital/clinician benefits:3 Reduced inpatient stay, easing bed pressure and allowing bed reductionor reconfiguration3 Improved efficiency of resource use, including impact on waiting times3 Admission avoidance for some infections3 Reduced hospital staff workload3 Consistent specialist infection input into patient care3 Resource for early discharge of patients with healthcare associatedinfections.Delivery of an OPAT service:1. Delivery of IV therapy in the home by the patient or relative2. By a healthcare professional3. In a clinic (outpatient department)4. In an intermediate care setting (e.g. GP surgery).Vygon has been working in partnership with the British Society forAntimicrobial Chemotherapy (BSAC) to develop an OPAT business casemodelling toolkit which can help you to introduce an OPAT servicein your hospital or Trust. This vital resource is now available to you,and your local Vygon representative can work w ith you to utilise this.Contact us on 01793 748830 for further informat ion.There are a number of examples of where and when anOPAT service can be used, including:• Skin and soft tissue infections• Bone and joint infections• Device related infections• Endocarditis• Central nervous system infections• Bacteraemia• Wound infections• Pneumonia• Pyelonephritis• Intra-adominal.OPAT services alreadyin existence haverepeatedly demonstratedthat they arecost-effective andprovide significant costsavings in the form ofbed days.Vygon (UK) Ltd 3