RAPID DIAGNOSIS OF CENTRAL VENOUS CATHETER SEPSIS

Signs of infection with a central venous access device in situ raise t he possibility of catheter sepsis. We evaluated three tests for diagno sis of infection in infants with suspected catheter sepsis. The acridi ne orange leucocyte cytospin (AOLC) test was 87% sensitive and 94% spe cific in the diagnosis of catheter-related sepsis defined by quantitat ive blood culture. The C-reactive protein and nitroblue tetrazolium te sts were not as useful. Using the AOLC results, available in an hour, we now remove fewer catheters on suspicion of sepsis alone.