In vitro assessment of effect of initial specimen diversion device on detection of central venous catheter contamination or colonization

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2024 Dec 19:1-4. doi: 10.1017/ice.2024.220. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

The role of initial specimen diversion devices (ISDDs) in preventing contamination of central venous catheter (CVC) blood cultures is undefined. A model to simulate CVC colonization and contamination compared standard cultures with ISDD technique. ISDD detected 100% of colonized CVCs while decreasing false-positive cultures from 36% to 16%.