Our body's normal reaction to foreign objects inserted into the bloodstream involves proteins sticking to them and the activation of immune cells as a protective process engulfing the object. Understanding how the body and devices, such as intravenous catheters, interact with the cells within the bloodstream is crucial to avoiding problems and device failures.

The article, published in 2022, discusses the use and complications of peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs), which are increasingly used for administering various medical therapies due to their ease of insertion compared to traditional central venous catheters (CVCs). The article presents a study analyzing data from 42,562 hospitalized medical patients to compare the performance of coated antimicrobial PICCs, antithrombogenic polyurethane PICCs, and polyurethane PICCs in preventing CLABSI, venous thromboembolism (VTE), and occlusion in general and high-risk populations.