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Catheter-Related BSI — SCE Infectious Diseases MCQ

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HardHealthcare-Associated InfectionsCatheter-Related BSISCE Infectious Diseases

Paired catheter and peripheral blood cultures grow the same coagulase-negative staphylococcus, with the catheter bottle becoming positive more than 2 hours earlier. What does this support?

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Correct answer: E — Catheter-related bloodstream infection with the catheter as the likely source

The best answer is “Catheter-related bloodstream infection with the catheter as the likely source”. A differential time to positivity above the accepted threshold supports a catheter source when sampling was simultaneous and volumes were comparable. “A peripheral bacteraemia definitively unrelated to the catheter” does not match the decisive clinical feature or cited guidance. “Catheter colonisation without bloodstream infection” does not match the decisive clinical feature or cited guidance. “Contamination regardless of the reproducible timing pattern” does not match the decisive clinical feature or cited guidance. “Endocarditis without echocardiographic or clinical evidence” does not match the decisive clinical feature or cited guidance.

Reference: NICE CG139 healthcare-associated infection recommendations: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg139/chapter/Recommendations