[Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus sp. in blood cultures from infants less than 60 days old: infection versus contamination].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of infection versus the prevalence of contamination in infants less than 60 days old who had blood cultures positive for CoNS.


METHODS
Between February and June - 1993, a number of 45 blood cultures positive for CoNS from 41 patients were studied. Patients were classified in three groups according to their clinical and laboratorial data: I- infected patients, II- non-infected patients and III- dubious.


RESULTS
The results showed that 11 patients (26.8%) were included in group I, 25 (61%) in group II (contaminated blood cultures), and 5 (12.2%) in group III.


CONCLUSIONS
It is suggested that more than one blood culture should be requested before treatment with antimicrobials, avoiding unnecessary administration of antibiotics.
Silbert
S
S
Bióloga da Unidade de Microbiologia do Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre. suzi@dpx1.hcpa.ufrgs.br
Rosa
D D
DD
Matte
U
U
Goldim
J R
JR
Barcellos
S H
SH
Procianoy
R S
RS