Sepsis due to staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia following infection of a left antecubital fossa intravenous access site puncture wound
AI-generated summary
An 83-year-old man with heart and kidney failure died from sepsis caused by MSSA bacteraemia following infection at a peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) insertion site. Ambulance paramedics inserted the PIVC 56 hours before hospital admission, but hospital staff failed to remove it within the required 24-hour protocol window. The site became infected with purulent discharge noted on day 5. Clinical lessons include: strict adherence to PIVC removal protocols is essential to prevent catheter-related infections; field-inserted lines require clear identification and monitoring handover; and responsibility assignments must be explicit to prevent oversight. The coroner found this preventable death occurred due to lack of identifying markers on the emergency line, absence of documented monitoring, and unclear protocol responsibility allocation.
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Specialties
emergency medicinesurgeryinfectious diseasesintensive care
Error types
proceduralsystemcommunication
Clinical conditions
sepsisMSSA bacteraemiaperipheral intravenous catheter site infectionheart failurekidney failure
Failure to remove ambulance-inserted PIVC within 24-hour protocol timeframe
Lack of identifying sticker or marker on ambulance-inserted PIVC
Lack of clear protocol responsibility assignment for PIVC monitoring and removal
Absence of documented monitoring or review of PIVC site
Field insertion of PIVC with associated higher contamination risk
Pre-existing heart failure and kidney failure worsening infection severity
Coroner's recommendations
Both Ambulance Tasmania and Tasmanian Health Service to maintain procedures for reviewing efficacy of implemented measures at appropriate time intervals
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