CSF Cultures

[csolt, BSN, RN]

Hello all,

I just wanted to see what other hospital policies are as far as nurses drawing cerebrospinal fluid cultures. There has been disagreement on my unit whether or not the cultures are drawn directly from the ventricle, or if it is drawn from the EVD tubing (NOT the collection bag). We all draw from the proximal port, but the question is which way are we turning the stopcock on the triport of the EVD? My hospital uses Lippincott for our policies and procedures, but it does not specify. I am emailing them and our unit educator for clarification, but I want to see what other hospitals are doing and if there is any evidence to support the practice. I have found sources online that state both. Thanks in advance.

[chare]

At any facility in which I have ever worked, the only place that the RN was allowed to use to collect a sample was the stopcock at the bottom of the collection chamber, where it empties to the drainage bag. The only providers to use any of the stopcocks between the insertion site and collection device where the neurosurgeon or neurosurgery NP/PA.

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

RNs haven't drawn them either place I've worked -- only neuro/neurosurg MDs did.