Rapid Diagnosis of Intravascular Catheter-Associated Infection by Direct Gram Staining of Catheter Segments

H. Braunstein, Mark Linzer, Julie Righter, Allison Mcgeer, Cyrus C. Hopkins, Glenn L. Cooper

Research output: Contribution to journalLetterpeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

To the Editor: Whatever the merits of the technique described by Cooper and Hopkins in the May 2 issue,* it is ridiculous to refer to this manually performed, time-consuming procedure as “inexpensive.” It is evident that more than 15 minutes of microscopy by a medical technologist is required (“at least 200 oil-immersion fields were examined” “frequent adjustments of fine focus were necessary….”). When there is added to that the time consumed in processing and positioning the catheter, 30 minutes is a conservative estimate of the time required. Furthermore, if the procedure is done, as they recommend, immediately after a catheter.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)754-755
Number of pages2
JournalNew England Journal of Medicine
Volume313
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 19 1985

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