Management approach for suspected bloodstream infection associated with a peripheral intravenous catheter

For patients with a peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) who do not appear unwell, consider treating them as for a local infection associated with a PIVC. Remove the PIVC immediately if it is inflamed or suspected of being the source of infection. Obtain a swab for culture from the insertion site and a blood sample for culture from a separate peripheral site. If the patient appears unwell or has systemic features of infection (eg fever, raised white blood cell count), in addition to removing the PIVC, start empirical antibiotic therapy for suspected bloodstream infection.