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All India Institute of Medical Sciences, India
Routine culture of epidural catheters not advised in postoperative cancer patients
October 13th, 2006
Routine culture of epidural catheters is not advisable in cancer patients because the presence of a positive tip culture does not predict epidural space infection. According to a study from India, "We conducted a prospective study to determine the epidural tip culture pattern and its clinical implication in postoperative cancer patients. All patients scheduled to undergo various cancer surgeries requiring epidural analgesia were included." "Epidural catheter tips were sent for culture on removal. Of the 466 epidural catheter tips sent for culture, 27 showed a positive culture (5.7%). The commonest organism identified was Staphylococcus aureus....
Source: Medicine & Law Weekly (2006-10-13)
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