Looking for research about drawing blood cultures from central lines. One hospital I work at has a policy that draws cultures from all ports on a central line ie. proximal, medial, and distal sites. The other hospital I work at only draws from the proximal port if we are sending line cultures. Can anyone tell me if there is any research for what is best recommended practice.
Lets not forget the Pheripheral Sample!!! The most important.......
Yes! sorry I forgot to mention this! But still looking for information about drawing cultures from the proximal, medial and distal sites? It seems reasonable to just pull from the proximal?
The INS standard 2011 state that the largest lumen should be used for blood sampling with multi lumen CVADs. If the CVAD have staggered lumen exit sites, the sample should be drawn from the highest in the sup. vena cava./manufac.directions for use.
Karen Desjardins
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Extra Mural Program (Home Healthcare)
Vitalité Health Network
New Brunswick, Canada