Blood cultures from peripheral IV cannula versus dedicated venepuncture
- Report By: Daniel P. Edgcumbe - SHO, Emergency Medicine
- Search checked by Duncan McAuley - Consultant in Emergency Medicine
- Institution: Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge
- Date Submitted: 6th July 2007
- Last Modified: 8th October 2007
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Status:
Blue (submitted but not checked)
Three Part Question
In [patients presenting to the Emergency Department] does [taking blood cultures from freshly inserted peripheral intravenous cannula rather than by dedicated venepuncture] result in [higher rates of contamination]?Clinical Scenario
Your hospital has a policy which states that blood cultures should be taken by dedicated venepuncture, rather than from freshly inserted intravenous cannulae, in order to reduce the risk of contamination. You wonder if this is supported by the literature.Search Strategy
Medline 1950-07/07 using the DIALOG interface.[culture] AND [(cannula OR catheter)] AND [peripheral] AND [(contamination OR contaminated OR contaminate)] AND [LG=EN]