Preliminary test results are available 36 hours to allow the organisms time to grow.
Growth and identification of the organism often takes 48 to 72 hours to complete.
If the client has IV antibiotics infusing, stop the infusion before drawing blood cultures.
If catheter sepsis is suspected, culturing the catheter tip is more accurate for identification.
Number 2 is correct.
Cultures normally require 48 to 72 hours to complete growing. Preliminary test results are available at 24 hours. If IV antibiotics are infusing, the nurse should draw cultures just before administering the next dose in order to avoid compromising results. If catheter sepsis is suspected, drawing cultures through the catheter is more accurate than culturing the catheter tip only.
