Efficacy of alternative dressing and securement options for peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) in the prevention of PICC failure and infection. the PISCES Trial

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The primary purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of alternative dressing and securement devices in preventing device failure and infection in peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) in cancer patients. You may be eligible to participate in this trial if you are a cancer patient of any age, with a haematological malignancy or solid tumour, and are having a PICC inserted as part of your therapy (which is expected to remain in place for at least 24 hours). All participants enrolled in this trial will be randomly allocated (by chance) to receive one of four PICC dressing/securement device combinations. These combinations are the standard securement device with a simple polyurethane dressing; the standard securement device with a simple polyurethane dressing and a chlorhexidine impregnated disc; an integrated securement device and simple polyurethane dressing combined into a single device; or an integrated securement device and chlorhexidine impregnated disc. The allocated dressing will be re-applied every 7 days or more frequently if required, until 8 weeks or until the time of device removal if removal is required earlier. Participants will be asked to rate the acceptability of the device and dressing, and the device will be observed closely to examine side effects, device failures and infections. It is hoped that the findings of this trial will provide information on which PICC securement devices and dressings are most effective in preventing PICC failure and infection in cancer patients.