Roll-Plate Alone Does Not Demonstrate Colonization In Silicone Neonatal Catheters.

We compared roll-plate, sonication and slicing for the detection of colonization and catheter-related bloodstream infection (C-RBSI) in 90 silicone neonatal peripherally inserted central catheters. Colonization was detected by roll-plate, sonication and slicing in 3.4%, 6.9% and 10.3% of catheters, respectively. C-RBSI was detected by roll-plate, sonication and slicing only in 4.8% of each. The roll-plate technique was not a good predictor of colonization and C-RBSI in silicone neonatal peripherally inserted central catheters. Detecting intraluminal colonization was required.