Utilization and diagnostic yield of blood cultures in a surgical intensive care unit.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the diagnostic yield of blood cultures obtained in a surgical intensive care unit (ICU) and to assess factors potentially influencing yield.


METHODS
Retrospective, descriptive study.


METHODS
Surgical ICU in a university hospital.


METHODS
All patients who had a blood culture obtained during their admission to the trauma/neurosurgical ICU of Presbyterian University Hospital from January 1, 1993 to December 31, 1993.


RESULTS
Blood culture isolates were categorized as pathogens or contaminants and overall diagnostic yield was determined. Blood cultures were positive for pathogens in 4.6% of all culture episodes, while contaminants were isolated in 5.5% of all culture episodes. A total of 23 true bacteremias were identified in 21 patients, for an overall rate of bacteremia of 3.6 per 100 admissions (5.9 per 1,000 patient days). Concurrent antibiotics were being used at the time of blood culture in 65.3% of all culture episodes. The yield for pathogens was significantly lower (2.2%) when cultures were obtained on antibiotics compared with culture episodes obtained off antibiotics (6.4%) (p < .05). Single-set blood culture episodes were obtained in approximately 32% of all culturing episodes with the overall yield for pathogens of these culturing episodes lower (2.9%) than that of multiple-set culture episodes (5.3%) (p = NS).


CONCLUSIONS
Blood culture yield in this surgical ICU was relatively low in comparison with other published studies. The data further suggest that concurrent use of systemic antibiotics and inappropriate or excessive culturing may negatively influence blood culture yield.
Darby
J M
JM
Department of Anesthesiology, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, PA, USA.
Linden
P
P
Pasculle
W
W
Saul
M
M
D016470:Bacteremia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001769:Blood / Q000382:microbiology*; D016638:Critical Illness; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative