Rifampin clotting PICC lines

Specialties NICU

Published

Specializes in Neonatal ICU.

Is anyone else having a problem with rifampin clotting off their picc lines? We had a picc that had only been in for a day clot off during the rifampin infusion. One of the NNP's that I work with said she has seen this in the past and even seen it happen with a Broviac. Anybody else with similiar experience?

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Specializes in PICU, ICU, Transplant, Trauma, Surgical.

i haven't seen a kid in our nicu on rifampin - was it for mrsa?

(sorry, i can't answer your question-)

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Specializes in Neonatal ICU.

yes, the rifampin is for a mrsa positive blood culture and the baby is going to be on it for 30 days. The NNP even tried running a heparin drip with the med to prevent the problem and of course that did not work as the problem is not a blood clot but i believe a problem with particulate from the med. It actually clots off mid infusion.:o

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, educator.

We have used rifampin and we haven't had a problem with our centrals or PICCS. Is the pharmacy diluting as far down as they can to decrease the viscocity? I don't know our dilution off the top of my head, but I believe it is the one in the neofax. We will put in a PICC for the 30 day treatment. What size is the PICC....I can see a problem if you are using a 1fr, but the 2fr should be fine.

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Specializes in Level 3 NICU 17 yrs, Neo transport 13 yr.

we use rifampin infrequently, but have never had any problems with it clotting off picc lines.

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Specializes in NICU.
we use rifampin infrequently, but have never had any problems with it clotting off picc lines.

same here

do your picc lines that are clotting off have fluid w/ heparin running through them continuously? when we are keeping central lines open just for antibiotics, we have fluid (usually d10 w/ lytes) running through them w/ 1unit heparin/ml. but i guess in the case of the rifampin, it would have to be d5w.

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