A Multicentre Study about Pattern and Organisms Isolated in Follow-up Blood Cultures.
- Author:
Jeong Hwan SHIN
1
;
Eui Chong KIM
;
Sunjoo KIM
;
Eun Ha KOH
;
Dong Hyun LEE
;
Sun Hoi KOO
;
Ji Hyun CHO
;
Jae Seok KIM
;
Nam Hee RYOO
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords: Bacteraemia; Follow-up study; Sepsis
- MeSH: Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Korea; Sepsis; Skin
- From:Annals of Clinical Microbiology 2013;16(1):8-12
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: BACKGROUND: This study analysed patterns of requests for repeated blood cultures and the microorganisms isolated in follow-up cultures. METHODS: The frequencies and intervals of repeated blood cultures performed during January and February of 2010 at seven university-affiliated hospitals in Korea were evaluated. Results of microbiological cultures at follow-up were analysed with respect to pathogen replication, immune clearance, appearance of new pathogens, and skin contaminants. RESULTS: Among 3,072 patients who received repeated blood cultures, the average number of requests was 3.2. Of the 5,241 follow-up blood culture events recorded, durations of 1, 2, and 3 days between cultures were identified for 23.1%, 21.4%, and 15.0% of events, respectively. Relative to each initial culture, persistent pathogen growth in subsequent culture(s) accounted for 2.3% of events, whereas immune clearance was confirmed in 8.5% of events. Previously undetected pathogens were isolated in 5.2% of the follow-up cultures, the majority of which grew after an interval of six days. Skin contaminants were detected in 7.6% of the repeated cultures, and 76.1% of the follow-ups displayed no growth of microorganisms. CONCLUSION: The most common numbers of repeat culture requests were two and three, and these were typically performed within three days of the initial culture. Among the follow-up cultures, new pathogens were identified in 5.2%, and the majority of this group likely presented for follow-up during a new disease episode.
