Comparison of contamination in simultaneous blood cultures with clinical findings.
Blood culture, the basic method used in the diagnosis of bacteremia or sepsis, is decisive for patient's treatment. It is emerging whether the isolated microorganism is a causative agent of the infection or a contaminant. The aim of this study was to determine whether Gram-positive microorganisms, which were isolated from blood cultures simultaneously collected from two distinct veins both revealed the same species and same susceptibility profiles as they were causative agents of the bloodstream infection. Among the strains isolated from a total of 67 cultures, which revealed the same species, 52.2% (35/67) were considered to be clinical causative agents and 47.8% (32/67) were considered as skin contaminants. Inoculation of the simultaneous blood cultures collected from two distinct veins should be performed.
1Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Abant Izzet Baysal  University, Bolu; Turkey 2Department of Internal Diseases, Private Cagri Medical Center, Elazig; Turkey.
Firat
F
Zafer Mengeloglu
Tekin
T
Tas
Fatih
F
Demırcan
D016470:Bacteremia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D001769:Blood / Q000382:microbiology*; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D014680:Veins