Catheter outcomes in home infusion.

Intravenous catheter outcomes are a prominent topic for healthcare providers whose patients receive intravenous medications. There are thousands of products being marketed today claiming to improve catheter outcomes, thus improving overall patient outcomes and reducing provider costs associated with catheter infections and replacement. Catheter-related bloodstream infections (CR-BSIs) cost hospitals between $5000 and $34,000 per infection, and 12% to 25% of bloodstream infections are attributable to patient mortality. Products that claim to prevent CR-BSIs and subsequently reduce the number of bloodstream infections are a multimillion-dollar industry.