Utility of routine surveillance blood cultures in asymptomatic allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients with indwelling central venous catheters at a comprehensive cancer center

Usefulness of daily surveillance blood cultures in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients on steroids: a 1‐year prospective study

“…This high rate of detection of low‐virulence bacteria in SBCs was also observed by Nesher et al and by Elishoov et al , who reported that respectively 88% and 95.7% of positive SBCs yielded low‐virulence bacteria or contaminants. This low‐virulence bacteria predominance may be related to several factors.…”

“…However, in previous studies, SBCs were also obtained through a central line in most, if not all, patients (82.6–100% of patients) . SBCs in our hospital were drawn daily, whereas sampling frequency ranged from once at admission to twice or thrice a week in most other previous studies . We report herein a median number of SBCs (13 per patient, range 1–106) higher than reported elsewhere (1 per patient [in 1 study] to 9 per patient [range 2–49 and 1–92] in 2 studies, and 11 [range 2–35] in 1 study) .…”

“…SBCs in our hospital were drawn daily, whereas sampling frequency ranged from once at admission to twice or thrice a week in most other previous studies . We report herein a median number of SBCs (13 per patient, range 1–106) higher than reported elsewhere (1 per patient [in 1 study] to 9 per patient [range 2–49 and 1–92] in 2 studies, and 11 [range 2–35] in 1 study) . The highly repeated SBCs from central lines increase the risk of contamination, as discussed below.…”

“…SBCs were drawn from a CVC in the majority of patients (78%), which could increase the rate of contaminations. However, in previous studies, SBCs were also obtained through a central line in most, if not all, patients (82.6–100% of patients) . SBCs in our hospital were drawn daily, whereas sampling frequency ranged from once at admission to twice or thrice a week in most other previous studies .…”

Bacterial bloodstream infections in the allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant patient: new considerations for a persistent nemesis

“…57 Role of surveillance blood cultures A retrospective study of asymptomatic adult allo-HCT recipients with CVCs who had 6801 surveillance blood cultures performed showed surveillance cultures infrequently yielded significant results (0.59% of all surveillance blood cultures drawn) and were associated with unnecessary medical interventions and added cost. 58 A prospective observational study in allo-HCT recipients receiving steroids who underwent daily blood culture surveillance also did not demonstrate a clear benefit and rarely identified a CLABSI. 59 Similarly, small case series of weekly BSI surveillance in asymptomatic children undergoing HCT demonstrated very low yield and significant cost, with no clear improvement in patient outcomes and higher rates of detection of contaminants.…”