Individual versus pooled multiple-lumen blood cultures for the diagnosis of intravascular catheter-related infections

Am J Infect Control. 2015 Jul 1;43(7):715-8. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2015.02.028. Epub 2015 Apr 11.

Abstract

Background: The current gold standard method for diagnosis of central-line associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) requires central venous catheter removal and a positive culture of the CVC tip with a positive peripheral blood culture.

Study design: Comparative study.

Methods: We compared individual blood cultures from each catheter lumen versus a pooled-blood culture bottle containing blood samples from every catheter lumen for the diagnosis of CLABSI.

Results: The pooled blood culture had the same sensitivity as the individually cultured central venous catheter lumens (85%) to detect CLABSI. A high correlation was found when we compared the pooled culture with any positive lumen result (κ = 0.98) but not when compared with any single lumen.

Conclusions: Sampling multiple lumens from a central line and incubating them in the same blood culture bottle is as effective as individual blood cultures for the diagnosis of colonization or CLABSI and is a better choice than sampling only 1 lumen when sending 3 different blood culture bottles is not possible.

Keywords: Central line-associated bloodstream infections; Hospital-acquired infections; Infection control.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Catheter-Related Infections / diagnosis*
  • Humans
  • Microbiological Techniques / methods*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Specimen Handling / methods*