Figure 1).

Screening process. Due to the very large initial term of derivation (11,291 vascular access device [VAD] courses) for control patients, Excel (Microsoft Corporation, USA) was used for filtering the initial steps. Patients were determined to be using the VAD for antimicrobial purposes by the reported descriptions in the database. Once antimicrobial courses were determined, the rest of the screening process was performed manually. Feb February; IV Intravenous; Jan January; OPAT Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy