Catheter infection
Sampling protocol
- Clinical suspicion of catheter infection: erythema or pus at the insertion site, abnormal local or regional swelling, or abnormal pain
- Septicemia caused by Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas, Candida, or cutaneous flora of unknown origin, with a catheter in place
- Sepsis or septic shock of unknown origin, with a catheter in place
- Decontaminate the skin around insertion site with 70% alcohol to reduce contaminating skin flora and remove any residual antimicrobial ointment
- Allow to dry
- Aseptically remove the catheter
- Cut 1 cm of the intraluminal end using sterile technique
- Place the catheter segment in a sterile container and transport immediately to the laboratory
- 70% alcohol
- Sterile container
- Acceptable IV catheters for semi quantitative culture: Central line, CVP, Hickman, Broviac, peripheral, arterial, umbilical, hyperalimentation, Swan-Ganz
- Not acceptable for culture: Catheter Foley (represents distal urethral flora)