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In drawing blood cultures from a central line to evaluate for CLABSI, do you advise drawing separate blood cultures from each port in case of dual or triple lumen line?

If yes, what is the rationale for doing that?
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In evaluating for CLABSI, do you recommend drawing separate blood cultures from each port in a dual or triple lumen central line?

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3 Answers
Mednet MemberInvited Expert
Infectious Disease · Early Intervention Program Camden County
Answered on

You don't need to use the central line to draw those cultures. Using the line to draw blood can in it by itself pose risk of introducing a microorganisms. NHSN CLABSi definition does not call for blood culture to be done from a line.

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Mednet MemberInvited Expert
Infectious Disease · Nebraska Medical Center
Answered on · Updated on

I recently reviewed the perspective article from OFID (Mermel & Rupp, PMID 38770214) that tried to address the nuances related to the diagnosis of CLABSI and provided some expert guidance. I strongly recommend reading this article.

The authors begin the discussion by saying there is no practical way to diagnose CLABSI unless there is catheter exit site inflammation or tip cultures are positive, as CVC-drawn blood cultures may likely reflect colonization of the hub/connector or intraluminal coloni...

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Mednet MemberInvited Expert
Infectious Disease · University of Kentucky College of Medicine
Answered on

Although drawing blood culture from a central line is not recommended in general, the old IDSA guideline in 2009 mentioned "If a blood sample cannot be drawn from a peripheral vein, it is recommended that ⩾2 blood samples should be drawn through different catheter lumens (B-III). It is unclear whether blood cultures should be drawn through all catheter lumens in such circumstances (C-III)". Mermel et al., PMID 19489710

This guidance was published more than 15 years ago, and I do not think this ...

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