Value of direct catheter staining in the diagnosis of intravascular-catheter-related infection.
Ninety-nine intravascular catheters were evaluated by a semiquantitative culture and Gram and acridine orange direct stains. A diagnosis of catheter-related infection was determined by a retrospective review of clinical records. Compared with the culture method, direct examination of catheters lacked sensitivity. Surprisingly, for some patients, a positive stain for yeasts not recovered by culture was considered significant. The culture correlated with bacteremia but failed to predict infection in 42% of patients.
Coutlée
F
F
Department of Microbiology, Hôpital Notre-Dame, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Lemieux
C
C
Paradis
J F
JF
D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D006801:Humans; D018805:Sepsis / Q000175:diagnosis; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods*