title: Optimum sampling time for detection of dental bacteraemia in children.
abstract: A total of 458 blood cultures were taken from 229 children aged 2 to 16 yr. Each 6 ml sample was taken starting at one of the following times after the extraction of a single tooth: 10 s, 30 s, 60 s, 90 s, 120 s, 180 s, 600 s and continuously over 2.5 min. The samples were cultured in the BACTEC radiometric culture system and when positive the bacteria isolated were speciated. At 30 s 56% of the samples were positive, the highest proportion, in contrast to only 38% of positive samples at 90 s and 28% at 600 s. Over 50% of the organisms found were Viridans streptococci.
authors.affiliation: Department of Children's Dentistry and Orthodontics, Guy's Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gardner
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Simmons
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D001420:Bacteria, Aerobic / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001421:Bacteria, Anaerobic / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001769:Blood / Q000382:microbiology; D001800:Blood Specimen Collection; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000209:etiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects*