Annals of internal medicine
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Blood culture phlebotomy: switching needles does not prevent contamination.
To determine how switching to a sterile needle after phlebotomy and before the inoculation of blood culture bottles affects the rate of skin flora contamination. ⋯ The needle switch in the conventional blood culture technique does not reduce the rate of skin flora contamination. Blood cultures should no longer be obtained by switching needles.