Methods of surveillance  

Surveillance for CABSI in the acute-care setting includes a daily review of all positive blood cultures. A review of the medical record should be performed to determine the cause of a positive blood culture. Replacement of temporary catheters over a guidewire in the presence of a bloodstream infection is not recommended, because the source is usually colonization with skin flora from the insertion site. Short-term CVCs should be replaced if there is purulence at the insertion site, purulence being an indication of infection.2  If infection is suspected, two sets of blood cultures should be drawn, one through the IV catheter and one percutaneously obtained via venipuncture.