Can anyone provide me with evidence that disputes the practice of drawing blood cultures off of a newly inserted peripheral device? Rather than stick the patient for an IV start and a peripheral blood draw, it would make sense to stick the patient once. Any thoughts on this? THank you!
I don't know of any evidence that says you can't or shouldn't draw blood cultures from new PIV.
I do think there is evidence that blood cultures are done by 2 cultures, instead of 1. So, the patient may need to have the PIV started and have a peripheral blood draw to get the 2nd culture.
Gwen Irwin
Austin, Texas