Evaluation of the usefulness of a quantitative blood culture in the diagnosis of catheter-related bloodstream infection: Comparative analysis of two periods (2002 and 2012).

Introduction: A retrospective study was conducted to investigate the usefulness of systematic quantitative blood culture (QBC) in the diagnosis of catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) during two 1-year periods (2002 and 2012).

Methods: The study included all QBC requests sent to the microbiology laboratory for suspected CRBSI in adults (≥18 years) with any type of intravascular catheter (IVC). Based on a ratio of ≥4:1CFU/mL of the same microorganism between IVC blood culture from any lumen and peripheral blood culture, 5 diagnostic groups were defined: confirmed or probable CRBSI, primary BSI, other focus of infection, and colonization.

Antibiotic-lock therapy for long-term intravascular catheter-related bacteraemia: results of an open, non-comparative study.

Background: Infection is one of the main problems associated with long-term central venous catheters. This study assesses the effectiveness of antibiotic-lock therapy (ALT) for treating catheter-related bacteraemia (CRB).

Methods: CRB was defined as quantitative blood culture counts through any catheter lumen 5-fold greater than concurrent peripheral blood culture, and qualitative blood culture positive for the same microorganism in all samples.