Evaluation of different catheter parts for identification of pulmonary artery catheter colonisation.

A prospective study was conducted over 18 months to evaluate the accuracy of the semiquantitative culture technique performed from different catheter parts for detection of catheter colonisation in critically ill patients with pulmonary artery catheters. Semiquantitative culture of the tip catheter segment alone detected 66% of catheter colonisations. Semiquantitative culture of the other intravascular catheter segments (atrial or intradermal) provided similar yield. A combination of intradermal and atrial or tip catheter segment cultures provided the best means of detecting catheter colonisation.