Introduction

Our objective was to determine whether there is a cut-off in the needleless connectors’ (NCs) cultures that when combined with skin cultures it was as efficient as conventional superficial cultures to rule-out catheter colonization (CC) and catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI).

Methods

During 10 months, we collected samples and then we analyzed the validity values of skin + NCs cultures for CC and CRBSI considering the best cut-off showing at least >90% of specificity to have a high negative predictive value using a ROC curve.

Results

We collected a total of 167 catheters. The optimal cut-off of NCs culture was 1000 cfu/NC. The validity values for CC and CRBSI combining skin cultures and NCs cultures using the selected cut-off were, respectively: S, 42.9%/16.7%; SP, 83.6%/75.8%; PPV, 27.3%/2.5%; and NPV, 91.0%/96.0%.

Conclusions

The combination of skin cultures and quantitative NCs cultures could be used for ruling-out CC and CRBSI.

中文翻译：

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微生物实验室应如何解读封闭式无针连接器的超声培养物？

介绍

我们的目标是确定无针连接器 (NCs) 培养中是否存在截断，当与皮肤培养相结合时，它与传统的浅表培养一样有效地排除导管定植 (CC) 和导管相关的血流感染(CRBSI)。

方法

在 10 个月内，我们收集了样本，然后我们分析了皮肤 +  NCs 培养物对 CC 和 CRBSI的有效性值，考虑到使用 ROC 曲线显示至少 >90% 的特异性具有高阴性预测值的最佳截止值。

结果

我们共收集了 167 个导管。NCs 培养的最佳截止值为 1000  cfu/NC。CC 和 CRBSI 结合皮肤培养和 NCs 培养的有效性值分别为：S，42.9%/16.7%；SP，83.6%/75.8%；PPV，27.3%/2.5%；和 NPV，91.0%/96.0%。

结论

皮肤培养和定量 NCs 培养的组合可用于排除 CC 和 CRBSI。