THE USE OF CONTINUOUS MONITORING BLOOD CULTURE SYSTEMS IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF CATHETER-RELATED SEPSIS

Aim-To assess whether the information provided by automated continuous monitoring blood culture systems could aid in the diagnosis of cathet er related sepsis. Methods-Serial dilutions of a strain of coagulase n egative staphylococcus were inoculated into the BacT/Alert blood cultu re system. Blood culture results for seven patients with possible cath eter related sepsis from coagulase negative staphylococci were reviewe d. Results-Time to positivity and length of lag period were strongly r elated to the concentration of bacteria inoculated (average decrease o f 1.5 hours to positivity for each 10-fold increase in concentration). Time to positivity and length of lag period were significantly shorte r for central line blood cultures than for those taken from peripheral sites. Conclusions-Using data already measured by continuous monitori ng blood culture systems may provide a simple alternative to quantitat ive blood cultures for the diagnosis of catheter related sepsis.