Culture of Catheter Tip Intravascular Devices
POWERCHART ORDER – Catheter Tip Culture
Useful For
The Intrvascular Catheter insertion site becomes colonized by bacteria from the patient’s own skin or by microorganisms carried on the hands of medical personnel. Organisms can also gain access through the lumen of the catheter following contamination of the hub or infusion of contaminated fluids. Invading organisms can then colonize the intravascular catheter surfaces and produce a local infection, or in a significant number of cases, bacteremia, fungemia, suppurative phlebitis, or septic thrombosis.
Method Name
Culture
Aliases
C Cath Tip
Specimen Type
Catheter Tip
Specimen Required
Catheter Tips
Long catheters:
- Two portions of these catheters should be sent for culture: the distal intravascular tip and the proximal transcutaneous segment.
- Each segment should be approximately 2-3 cm long
Short catheters:
- The cannula should be cultured in its entirety following removal of the hub.
- To remove the hub, use the sterile scissors or snap off steel needles with a sterile hemostat
Specimen Minimum Volume
Long catheters:
- Two portions of these catheters should be sent for culture: the distal intravascular tip and the proximal transcutaneous segment.
- Each segment should be approximately 2-3 cm long
Short catheters:
- The cannula should be cultured in its entirety following removal of the hub.
- To remove the hub, use the sterile scissors or snap off steel needles with a sterile hemostat
Specimen Stability Information
Specimen transport:
- Transport catheter tips in a dry sterile container.
- It tips are cut to the proper length, there should be no need to bend them to fit into a wide mouth container.
- The specimen must reach the laboratory within 2 hours of collection to prevent loss of microorganisms
*NOTE* Specimens that do not meet the above criteria will be rejected.
Rejected Due To
The specimen must reach the laboratory greater than 2 hours of collection.
Special Instructions
- Specimens must be labeled with complete source and body site information, includingnthe type of catheter submitted.
- Exam includes quantitation of microbial growth and susceptibility testing, when relevant for the isolates recovered.
- irect smears (gram stain) cannot be performed from IV tubing.
- NOTE: The IV site must be properly disinfected (see Blood Culture requirements) before removal of the catheter, to prevent the introduction of cutaneous contaminants.
Performing Laboratory
Glens Falls Hospital Microbiology Laboratory
- 7 a.m. – 9 p.m.
- Turn around time is 3 days.
Day(s) and Time(s) Performed
- Day Shift
- 7 Days a week
Analytical Time
3 days for Negative Culture
Specimen Retention Time
72 Hours
Analytical Time
3 days for Negative Culture