title: Usefulness of blood culture for hospitalized patients who are receiving antibiotic therapy.
abstract: We conducted a retrospective study to determine the yield of blood samples drawn for culture during the initial 72 h of antibiotic therapy given to 139 patients who were admitted to the hospital for community-acquired infections or fever. The yield of these blood cultures was predictable and rarely (in only 1 patient [0.72%]) isolated new pathogens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Fletcher Allen Health Care, and University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT, USA. christopher.grace@vtmednet.org
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Grace
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lieberman
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pierce
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Littenberg
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents