Blood cultures in ambulatory outpatients.
BACKGROUND
Blood cultures are a gold standard specific test for diagnosing many infections. However, the low yield may limit their usefulness, particularly in low-risk populations. This study was conducted to assess the utility of blood cultures drawn from ambulatory outpatients.


METHODS
Blood cultures drawn at community-based collection sites in the Calgary Health Region (population 1 million) in 2001 and 2002 were included in this study. These patients were analyzed by linkages to acute care health care databases for utilization of acute care facilities within 2 weeks of blood culture draw.


RESULTS
3102 sets of cultures were drawn from 1732 ambulatory outpatients (annual rate = 89.4 per 100,000 population). Significant isolates were identified from 73 (2.4%) sets of cultures from 51 patients, including Escherichia coli in 18 (35%) and seven (14%) each of Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae. Compared to patients with negative cultures, those with positive cultures were older (mean 49.6 vs. 40.1 years, p < 0.01), and more likely to subsequently receive care at a regional emergency department, outpatient antibiotic clinic, or hospital (35/51 vs. 296/1681, p < 0.0001). Of the 331 (19%) patients who received acute care treatment, those with positive cultures presented sooner after community culture draw (median 2 vs. 3 days, p < 0.01) and had longer median treatment duration (6 vs. 2 days, p < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Blood cultures drawn in outpatient settings are uncommonly positive, but may define patients for increased intensity of therapy. Strategies to reduce utilization without excluding patients with positive cultures need to be developed for this patient population.
Laupland
Kevin B
KB
Department of Medicine, Centre for Anti-microbial Resistance and Infectious Diseases Research Group, University of Calgary, Calgary Health Region, and Calgary Laboratory Services, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. kevin.laupland@calgaryhealthregion.ca
Church
Deirdre L
DL
Gregson
Daniel B
DB
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D001800:Blood Specimen Collection; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged