title: Antimicrobial therapy of septicemic patients in intensive care units before and after blood culture reporting.
abstract: 68 cases of positive blood cultures from 54 intensive care unit (ICU) patients were analyzed retrospectively. The empiric antimicrobial therapy was correct in 65% of the cases as judged by the species and sensitivity of the blood culture isolate. After initial Gram-staining results were known, coverage increased to 77%. After the final blood culture results the coverage was still only 81%. The bacteremia-related mortality was 13%. Although there was no significant difference between the occurrence of bacteremia-related and non-bacteremia-related deaths either in patients with correct or non-optimal empiric treatment, this study emphasizes the need for better utilization of culture reporting. A considerable part of the final blood culture results went unnoticed by the ICU physicians which stresses the importance of good communication between the laboratory and wards.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Turku University Central Hospital, Finland.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rintala
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kairisto
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Eerola
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nikoskelainen
authors.forename: O P
authors.initials: OP
authors.lastname: Lehtonen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018805:Sepsis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents