why no tylenol before blood cultures drawn?

[nursenatalie, ADN, RN]

We were just discussing why last night and everyone had a different reason and most just heard not to.

[DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN]

We never give Tylenol, ASA, or antibiotics prior to blood cultures being drawn. I can only assume that those medications can someone how render the test invalid. I understand the antibiotic part. Hope this helps

[nursenatalie, ADN, RN]

It is the somehow render the test invalid part that I am wondering about, how?

[DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN]

It is the somehow render the test invalid part that I am wondering about, how?

Blood cultures are done to put blood in a petre dish to see if a particular strain of bacteria will growth. Antibiotics kill bacteria.

[stbernardclub]

TYLENOL IS NOT A ANTIBIOTIC...WHAT TYLENOL DOES IS SURPRESS THE STRAIN WHICH MAY NOT FULLY GROW OUT ON THE DISH, AND THEREFORE THE SENSITIVITY COULD BE INACCURATE.

Blood cultures are done to put blood in a petre dish to see if a particular strain of bacteria will growth. Antibiotics kill bacteria.

[nursenatalie, ADN, RN]

TYLENOL IS NOT A ANTIBIOTIC...WHAT TYLENOL DOES IS SURPRESS THE STRAIN WHICH MAY NOT FULLY GROW OUT ON THE DISH, AND THEREFORE THE SENSITIVITY COULD BE INACCURATE.

This is how our debate started last night. Tylenol does not suppress growth, the temperature our body runs is in defense against bacteria, I just dont get how tylenol wouldn interfere on a cellular level.

[Jolie, BSN]

To my knowledge, Tylenol has no effect on bacterial growth or the accuracy of blood cultures. My guess would be that giving Tylenol or other antipyretics prior to drawing a blood culture might obscure the clinical picture. Perhaps the practitioner wants an accurate temp to correlate with other physical signs and symptoms of infection, along with blood culture results.

[Burnt Out, ASN, RN]

I've never seen or heard to hold Tylenol until blood cultures are done-until tonight. Antibiotics, yes-we frequently get orders to wait on infusing antibiotics until after the blood cultures are done.

[beckymcrn]

If a patient is for some reason immuno suppressed the body's only defense against the bug (bacteria or viral) is a fever. I am assuming the doc wanted the cultures drawn before the tylenol and ATBX to get the true cultures before anything could ulter with the results. I know tylenol does not fight against bacteria and/or viral invasion, but if you just treat the fever you may never know the true source.

Thus drawing cultures first then medicating is a valid pratice. We do it all the time, of course after the cultures the tylenol and ATBX are usually given in a timely fashion.

[KarafromPhilly]

I've never heard of holding Tylenol until after cx are done--I don't understand how treating the fever would interfere with finding the source?

[PamUK]

Must admit, I have never heard of witholding tylenol before obtaining blood cultures, but practice here is often quite different to the States!

However, I had a quick look on the internet and every article I read, all said the same thing... no special preparation is required before blood cultures. One article stated that initiation of antibiotics should be withheld until blood cultures are drawn, reasons are pretty obvious. It may be that Tylenol is withheld initially, so that the doctor can get a full clinical picture, but once he has examined the patient and has an accurate temperature, I dont see why tylenol should be withheld before blood cultures are drawn

However, I think if subsequent antibiotics are deliberatley withheld in order that blood cultures are drawn, then the antibiotics levels could well fall below therapeutic levels, which is clearly not in the patients best interests

Withholding tylenol could well be one of those myths that are in all hospitals. It had a theory one time, but with advances in medicine, practice just hasn't caught up! Its a thought anyway.

Anyone know an Infection Control Nurse they could ask?

[renerian, BSN, RN]

I worked hem/onc/bmt a long time and we did not give tylenol till after the cultures were done. If you lower the body temp before the cultures you affect the body metabolism/fever and suppress some of the body activity response to infection. That makes sense to me in order to capture an accurate snapshot to get the body at it's response to an infection without being affected by medications. Makes sense?

renerian