| Organism | Frequency | Key Points |
|---|---|---|
| Coagulase-negative Staphylococci (CoNS: S. epidermidis) | ~35% | Most common overall. Biofilm-formers. Often low-virulence. May be contaminant, need ≥2 positive sets to confirm. Line salvage sometimes possible with lock therapy. |
| Staphylococcus aureus | ~15–20% | Line MUST be removed. High risk of metastatic seeding (endocarditis, osteomyelitis, epidural abscess). Always get TTE/TEE. Minimum 4–6 weeks if complicated. ID consult mandatory. |
| Enterococcus spp. | ~10% | E. faecalis (ampicillin-susceptible) vs E. faecium (often VRE). GI source possible. Remove line if possible. |
| Gram-negative rods | ~20% | Klebsiella, E. coli, Enterobacter, Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter. Consider GI/GU source. Pseudomonas, strong indication to remove line. |
| Candida spp. | ~10–15% | Line MUST be removed. Start echinocandin empirically. Ophthalmology consult (endophthalmitis). Blood cultures must be negative ×2 before stopping antifungals. Treat ≥14 days from first negative culture. |
| Test | How | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Paired blood cultures (gold standard) | Draw one set from each lumen of the central line AND one set from a peripheral vein. Label clearly. | Differential time to positivity (DTP): If central line culture turns positive ≥2 hours before peripheral = strongly suggests CRBSI (sensitivity 85%, specificity 91%). |
| Peripheral blood cultures alone | ≥2 sets from separate peripheral sites | If line cannot be accessed or has been removed. Two sets positive with same organism = true bacteremia (especially important for CoNS). |
| Catheter tip culture (Maki roll-plate) | If line is removed: roll 5-cm distal tip across blood agar | ≥15 CFU with same organism growing from peripheral blood = CRBSI confirmed. Only useful if line is removed. Do NOT routinely culture tips of removed lines without clinical suspicion. |
| Organism | Remove Line? | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| S. aureus | ALWAYS REMOVE | High risk of metastatic complications (endocarditis 25–30% if line retained). Biofilm impossible to eradicate with antibiotics alone. No exceptions. |
| Candida spp. | ALWAYS REMOVE | Cannot clear candidemia without removing focus. Each day of retained line increases mortality. Remove within 24 hours of positive culture. |
| Pseudomonas | STRONGLY RECOMMEND | Biofilm-former, difficult to eradicate. High failure rate with salvage. Remove unless truly irreplaceable. |
| GNRs (other) | REMOVE if possible | Preferred to remove. Salvage may be attempted with lock therapy in truly essential, difficult-to-replace lines + clinical improvement. |
| Enterococcus | REMOVE if possible | Remove preferred. VRE especially, limited treatment options make salvage risky. |
| CoNS (S. epidermidis) | SALVAGE may be attempted | Low-virulence organism. Salvage with antibiotic lock therapy + systemic antibiotics if line is truly essential (e.g., tunneled HD catheter, long-term TPN). Remove if failing, tunnel infection, or port pocket infection. |
| Scenario | Empiric Regimen | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard empiric | Vancomycin IV (MRSA/CoNS coverage) | Start immediately after cultures drawn. De-escalate by culture within 48–72h. |
| + GNR risk (ICU, immunocompromised, femoral line) | Vancomycin + Cefepime or Piperacillin-tazobactam | Add GNR coverage if severely ill, recent GNR colonization, or ICU patient. Cefepime for Pseudomonas risk. |
| Candida suspected (TPN, broad-spectrum abx, immunocompromised) | Add Micafungin 100 mg IV daily or Caspofungin 70 mg → 50 mg IV daily | Echinocandin preferred empirically (covers C. glabrata/krusei which are fluconazole-resistant). De-escalate to fluconazole if C. albicans + susceptible. |
| Organism | Duration (after line removal) | Key Points |
|---|---|---|
| CoNS | 5–7 days (if line removed) 10–14 days (if line salvaged + lock therapy) | Shortest course. Ensure ≥2 sets positive (not contaminant). If single set positive, likely contaminant, may not need treatment. |
| S. aureus | Minimum 4 weeks (2 weeks ONLY if ALL uncomplicated criteria met) | Uncomplicated: removable focus removed, negative TEE, clearance ≤72h, no implanted hardware, no metastatic infection. ID consult mandatory. 2-week course only with ALL criteria met. |
| Enterococcus | 7–14 days | Ampicillin for susceptible E. faecalis. Daptomycin or linezolid for VRE (E. faecium). |
| GNRs | 7–14 days | Narrow by sensitivities. Pseudomonas: 7–14 days with an anti-pseudomonal agent. May need combo therapy if MDR. |
| Candida | 14 days from first negative blood culture | Repeat cultures every 24–48h until negative. Ophthalmology consult (endophthalmitis in 10–15%). Remove line within 24h. Echinocandin → fluconazole step-down if susceptible. |
| Drug (Brand) | Spectrum | Dosing | Key Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vancomycin (Vancocin) | MRSA, CoNS, Enterococcus (non-VRE) | 15–20 mg/kg IV q8–12h Target AUC/MIC 400–600 | Empiric backbone for all CLABSI. Monitor AUC-guided dosing. Nephrotoxic, check BMP daily. Lock concentration: 5 mg/mL. |
| Daptomycin (Cubicin) | MRSA, VRE, CoNS | 6–8 mg/kg IV q24h (10–12 mg/kg for VRE endocarditis) | Alternative to vancomycin for MRSA BSI. Check weekly CPK (rhabdomyolysis). Inactivated by surfactant, cannot use for pneumonia. Excellent for BSI and endocarditis. |
| Cefazolin (Ancef) | MSSA | 2g IV q8h | Step-down from vancomycin once MSSA confirmed. Preferred over vancomycin for MSSA (better outcomes). |
| Micafungin (Mycamine) | Candida spp. (including C. glabrata) | 100 mg IV q24h | Echinocandin, first-line empiric for candidemia. Fungicidal against Candida. Few drug interactions. Well-tolerated. |
| Fluconazole (Diflucan) | C. albicans, C. parapsilosis | 400–800 mg IV/PO daily | Step-down from echinocandin once C. albicans confirmed + susceptible. NOT for C. glabrata (often resistant) or C. krusei (intrinsically resistant). |
| Linezolid (Zyvox) | VRE, MRSA | 600 mg IV/PO BID | VRE option. 100% oral bioavailability. Limit to ≤2 weeks if possible (thrombocytopenia, serotonin syndrome, optic neuropathy with prolonged use). Check weekly CBC. |