Biopatch for venous or arterial catheter sites

Equality considerations

NICE is committed to promoting equality, eliminating unlawful discrimination and fostering good relations between people with particular protected characteristics and others. In producing guidance and advice, NICE aims to comply fully with all legal obligations to: promote race and disability equality and equality of opportunity between men and women, eliminate unlawful discrimination on grounds of race, disability, age, sex, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity (including women post-delivery), sexual orientation, and religion or belief (these are protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010).

There is limited evidence suggesting men and people aged over 71 years have higher rates of bacterial colonisation on their skin, leading to an increased risk of infection at catheter insertion sites (Moro et al. 1994). Age and sex are protected characteristics under the Equality Act.

People with cancer are at greater risk of developing infection because of the underlying malignancy, treatment, and their impaired immune response. A diagnosis of cancer is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act.