Question: My wife was discharged from a 2 week hospital stay on Thursday, March 12. She was there for a septic UTI and infected PICC line, both uccessfully streated with antibiotics for 10 days of IV administered cipro and vancomycin after culter of the infections. She has type 2 diabetic; normal pressure hydrocephalus with a VP shunt which is functioning well; a 15 year history of NPH associated very serious UTIs; a supra pubic catheter which she has had for seven (7) years, changed last Friday, 2 days ago; and with a wide range of drug allergies. All her vitals are good (98 gluc; 110/84; 84 pulse; 97.6 temp; 96% O2); and her urine output was 1200cc, clear, lite yellow for the last 24 hours, no visible sediment. She was started on Xarelto 4 days before leaving the hospital and is continuing it now. Because of the nature of her veins --I am told they are small, roll, and generally not good-- and the nature of the antibiotics she was on it was necessary to restart the IV numerous times during the 10 days of the cipro / vanc treatment. Many of these IV sites showed some varying degrees of swelling and redness during the treatment but soon reverted to normal once the site was changed/closed. One of the last IV sites, however, has stayed red and swollen and has continued so since leaving the hospital, worsening somewhat, but not drastically. It is now more swollen, red, has a hard center, and is very tender to the touch. About an hour ago I elevated the arm and used a cold compress for about 15 minutes. It has not yet improved, but has not visibly worsened. It is still elevated, and I plan to use the cold compress again in the next hour. Before I do so I wanted to be sure I was doing the right thing and that I didn't need to take her to the ER.
Should I continue the elevation / compress procedures; change to something else; take her to ER for evaluation?

Thanks for your reply. I'll let you know if there art further questions.