Catheter Tip Anaerobic Bacterial Culture: Testing for Catheter-Related Infections
This test detects anaerobic bacteria grown from the tip of an indwelling catheter, such as an intravenous line or urinary catheter, and helps your doctor diagnose and treat infections related to the catheter.
{通过导管尖端培养检测是否存在厌氧菌感染,帮助医生判断感染是否由导管引起,指导抗生素选择和治疗方案制定,通常在怀疑导管相关感染时进行,结果有助于区分污染与真正的感染}
Key facts at a glance
- LOINC
- 90273-4
- Short code
- CATHANR
- Synonyms
- Bacteria Cath Tip Anaerobe Cult
- Category
- chemistry
- Sample
- serum
- Container
- Sterile, screw-capped, leak-proof container without preservatives; anaerobic transport system recommended for optimal recovery of obligate anaerobes
- Units
- N/A
- Ref low
- 0
- Ref high
- 15
- Fasting
- false
- Population
- adult
- Sex
- all
- Age range
- ≥ 0 years
- Method
- anaerobic-culture
- CPT
- 87075
- SNOMED
- 104181005
- Specimen volume
- Entire catheter tip segment (approximately 5 cm of distal catheter tip); minimum 2-3 cm required for semi-quantitative roll-plate analysis
- Stability
- Room temperature: 2 hours maximum; Refrigerated (2-8°C): not recommended for anaerobes; Best practice: process immediately or transport in anaerobic transport medium within 2 hours of collection
- Hemolysis max
- 500
- Lipemia max
- 1000
- Icterus max
- 500
- TAT
- 48–168 hours
- Order
- routine
What is this test?
A catheter tip anaerobic culture is a laboratory test that checks the tip of an indwelling catheter, such as an intravenous (IV) line or a urinary catheter, for anaerobic bacteria. Anaerobic bacteria are germs that grow only in places with little or no oxygen, so routine culture methods may miss them. For this test, the laboratory uses special techniques to grow the catheter tip sample in an oxygen-free environment, which makes it possible to identify anaerobic bacteria that may be causing an infection.
Why is this test needed?
When a patient with an indwelling catheter develops signs of infection, such as fever, chills, or redness, swelling, and pain at the catheter site, the doctor needs to find out whether the catheter is the source. This test can help to: 1) confirm whether a catheter-related infection is present; 2) identify the type of bacteria causing it; 3) guide targeted antibiotic treatment; and 4) help decide whether the catheter needs to be removed or replaced.
How is the test performed?
When the catheter is removed, a health care professional uses sterile technique to cut off about 5 cm of the catheter tip and places it in a sterile container to send to the laboratory. The laboratory then cultures the catheter tip on special growth media and incubates it in an anaerobic (oxygen-free) environment for several days. If bacteria grow, the laboratory identifies them and performs susceptibility testing to determine which antibiotics will work against them.
Understanding your results
Results are usually reported as positive (anaerobic bacteria were grown) or negative (no anaerobic bacteria were grown). A positive result suggests that an anaerobic bacterial infection may be present, but it must be interpreted together with your symptoms and other test findings. A negative result does not completely rule out infection, because recent antibiotic use or an insufficient culture period can prevent bacteria from growing.
Reference range
No growth of pathogenic organisms. Reportable results: Organism identification, colony count (CFU/mL), and antibiotic susceptibility testing (when clinically indicated). Catheter tip cultures yielding <15 CFU by semi-quantitative roll-plate method are generally considered not clinically significant.N/A
No special patient preparation required. However, the catheter should be removed aseptically prior to culture submission. Discontinue systemic antibiotics for at least 48-72 hours prior to collection when clinically feasible to maximize organism recovery. Document recent antibiotic therapy on the requisition.
Clinical interpretation
How abnormal results are interpreted and what conditions they suggest.
导管相关血流感染（CRBSI）是医院内常见的严重并发症，厌氧菌是可能的致病菌之一。早期识别厌氧菌感染对于选择合适的抗生素至关重要，因为某些抗生素对厌氧菌无效。培养结果阳性的患者可能需要更长疗程的抗生素治疗，有时还需要拔除感染导管。准确的病原学诊断可以提高治疗效果，减少并发症发生率和医疗费用。
Frequently asked questions
Are there any risks with this test?
How long does it take to get the results?
What happens if the culture comes back positive?
Can this test detect every catheter infection?
Sources
- 1
- 2
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This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
This content is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you have about a medical condition, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you read here.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency department immediately.
Medically reviewed by WellAlly Editorial Team Last reviewed August 16, 2026. · Read our editorial policy