Hi Jake- I have gone thru this 2 times. 2 times they removed the HW, put a PIC in for 6 weeks and put the implant back in and both were successful. The hardest part was stabilizing on the antibiotics - which are wicked sometimes. Both my infections were at large, well known hospitals in CA and NY so you are right...it can happen anywhere. It's a long process and sometimes he will feel sad, I had a calendar printed out and marked off each antibiotic treatment to the end. That helped me have something to keep me going. I wish him patience and luck and I am sure when the HW is returned, after a little while, he'll be back on his way.