title: Individual versus pooled multiple-lumen blood cultures for the diagnosis of intravascular catheter-related infections.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The current gold standard method for diagnosis of central-line associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) requires central venous catheter removal and a positive culture of the CVC tip with a positive peripheral blood culture.
  
  
  METHODS
  Comparative study.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared individual blood cultures from each catheter lumen versus a pooled-blood culture bottle containing blood samples from every catheter lumen for the diagnosis of CLABSI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The pooled blood culture had the same sensitivity as the individually cultured central venous catheter lumens (85%) to detect CLABSI. A high correlation was found when we compared the pooled culture with any positive lumen result (κ = 0.98) but not when compared with any single lumen.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sampling multiple lumens from a central line and incubating them in the same blood culture bottle is as effective as individual blood cultures for the diagnosis of colonization or CLABSI and is a better choice than sampling only 1 lumen when sending 3 different blood culture bottles is not possible.
authors: Departamento de Medicina Interna, Hospital Universitario Dr José Eleuterio González, Monterrey, Nuevo León, México.
authors: Alexis Samara
authors: AS
authors: Herrera-Guerra
authors: Servicio de Gastroenterología, Hospital Universitario Dr José Eleuterio González, Monterrey, Nuevo León, México.
authors: Elvira
authors: E
authors: Garza-González
authors: Departamento de Medicina Interna, Hospital Universitario Dr José Eleuterio González, Monterrey, Nuevo León, México.
authors: Michel Fernando
authors: MF
authors: Martínez-Resendez
authors: Departamento de Medicina Interna, Hospital Universitario Dr José Eleuterio González, Monterrey, Nuevo León, México.
authors: Jorge Martín
authors: JM
authors: Llaca-Díaz
authors: Departamento de Medicina Interna, Hospital Universitario Dr José Eleuterio González, Monterrey, Nuevo León, México. Electronic address: acamacho_md@yahoo.com.
authors: Adrián
authors: A
authors: Camacho-Ortiz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D055499:Catheter-Related Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008828:Microbiological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Central line-associated bloodstream infections; Hospital-acquired infections; Infection control