Year-end Sale % OFF 
Abstract
Colonization of central catheter tips has been associated with catheter-related infections. This colonization is defined as the presence of over 15 CFU in a semiquantitative catheter tip culture performed after catheter removal. Using a simple pour-plate technique, we determined the microbial concentrations in samples of blood collected via the hubs of 205 central catheters while they were in position in 179 cancer patients. All catheters were removed within three days of blood collection via the hub and cultured semiquantitatively. We then compared the results for the hub blood cultures and catheter tip cultures. Cultures from 18% of the hub samples and 29% of the tips were positive. When a cutoff limit of 1,000 CFU/ml was used for the blood cultures, the sensitivity was 20% and the specificity was 99% for estimating catheter tip colonization. These values did not seem to be related to the underlying disease, the site of catheter insertion, or the antibiotic treatment administered at catheter removal. We conclude that, if positive, cultures of blood sampled via the catheter hub can be useful in assessing the risk of catheter colonization in cancer patients.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
