BACTALERT Blood Culture Collection: Indwelling Cath Method

Overview:
This video describes the steps needed to collect and inoculate BACT/ALERT blood culture bottles when collecting from an indwelling catheter. This is not a preferred method since the risk of contamination is increased significantly.
Steps Included:
1. Have all the necessary supplies within reach.
2. Identify the patient.
3. Disinfect the indwelling catheter port as recommended by your facility’s approved procedure.
4. Inspect bottles and remove the flip-top and clean the septum.
5. Aspirate the appropriate amount of blood with a syringe.
6. Attach the safety transfer device to the syringe.
7. Inoculate the anaerobic bottle first, then the aerobic and finally any addition tubes if required.
8. Discard the transfer device and syringe into a sharps container.
9. Invert the bottles 3-5 times.
10. Label with patient information.
11. Place bottles and tubes into a biohazard bag and transport to the lab immediately.
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