Major articleIndividual versus pooled multiple-lumen blood cultures for the diagnosis of intravascular catheter-related infections

BackgroundThe 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.Study designComparative study.MethodsWe 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.ResultsThe 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.ConclusionsSampling 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.