The Clinical Impact of Culturing Central Venous Catheters

摘要: The semiquantitative culture technique is a standard procedure for the laboratory diagnosis of catheterassociated infections and catheter-associated bacteremia. In prospective observational study, we evaluated clinical impact results on treatment patient. Clinical was defined as change in or therapy basis result. One hundred fifty-seven catheters consecutively submitted from surgical intensive care unit to were studied. 96% episodes, no observed. other 4%, decisions guided mainly by concurrent positive blood cultures. Newer techniques that do not require removal catheter are needed guide therapeutic decisions. ( Arch Intern Med . 1992;152:1299-1302)