Antimicrobial use in patients with positive intravascular catheter cultures: a six-month prospective survey in a teaching hospital.
Review of medical records revealed that, of 190 intravascular catheters sent for culture during the study period, 50 were positive. Of these 50, 11 (22%) were sent for culture as a routine procedure without special clinical indications. Of the remaining 39 cultures, only 11 (28%) had clinical impact in the patient's management. Ten of the 50 therapeutic interventions were inappropriate. Restricting cultures to patients who may have catheter-related infection is likely to lead to significant cost savings.
Intensive Care Department, Hospital de Sabadell, Sabadell, Barcelona, Spain.
J
J
Rello
J
J
Vallés
D
D
Fontanals
P
P
Jubert
F
F
Segura
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000382:microbiology*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018805:Sepsis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D019564:Unnecessary Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents