title: Role of blood culture systems in the evaluation of epidemiological features of coagulase-negative staphylococcal bloodstream infection in critically ill patients.
abstract: The impact of blood culture systems on the detection of coagulase-negative staphylococcal bloodstream infections in critically ill patients prior to and following the introduction of the Bactec 9240 blood culture system (Becton Dickinson Diagnostic Instrument Systems, USA), which replaced the Bactec NR 730 (Becton Dickinson Diagnostic Instrument Systems), was investigated over a 3-year period. Following the introduction of the new culture system, the incidence of bloodstream infections doubled (P<0.001). Patient demographics, severity of illness, and mortality remained unchanged, while the annual standardized mortality ratio decreased significantly. These data suggest that blood culture systems may have a major impact on the perceived incidence of coagulase-negative staphylococcal bloodstream infections in this population.
authors.affiliation: General Intensive Care Unit, Bnai Zion Medical Center, Technion Faculty of Medicine, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Oud
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Krimerman
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Salam
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Srugo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D001769:Blood / Q000382:microbiology*; D003030:Coagulase / Q000378:metabolism*; D016638:Critical Illness; D003470:Culture Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000201:enzymology / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D003030:Coagulase; D003470:Culture Media; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic