Sensitivity of a blood culture drawn through a single lumen of a multilumen, long-term, indwelling, central venous catheter in pediatric oncology patients.
OBJECTIVE
The study assessed the sensitivity of a blood culture drawn from only one lumen of a multilumen, long-term, indwelling, central venous catheter in pediatric oncology patients.


METHODS
Episodes of positive blood cultures were included if cultures were sent simultaneously from multiple lumens of a long-term, indwelling, central line and if the culture was thought to represent a true bacteremia.


RESULTS
Discordant results from cultures drawn simultaneously from different lumens occurred in 13 (32%) of 41 episodes. The estimated sensitivity of a culture drawn from a single lumen was 84%.


CONCLUSIONS
Drawing blood cultures from all lumens of these lines should be considered in this patient population.
Robinson
Joan L
JL
Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. jr3@ualberta.ca
D016470:Bacteremia / Q000175:diagnosis; D001800:Blood Specimen Collection / Q000379:methods*; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies