Clinical value of repeat blood cultures in neonatal patients receiving antibiotic treatment.
OBJECTIVE
Retrospective database study to determine the clinical usefulness of repeat blood cultures in antibiotic-treated neonates.


METHODS
Data regarding blood culture indication and findings for patients admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) over a 2-year period were obtained from the hospital database. Repeat blood culture was defined as culture performed <7 days from initial testing in a patient receiving antibiotic treatment.


RESULTS
Repeat cultures made up 21.3% of all blood cultures originating in the NICU (500/2352 cultures; 338 initial positive cultures; 210 patients). The most common indications for repeat culture were follow-up of clinically well babies with previous positive culture findings and the development of new symptoms. The majority of culture findings were negative (60.2%), with 7.2% indicating the presence of a new pathogen. Cultures repeated on day 5 were significantly more likely to reveal a new pathogen than those repeated on days 1-4.


CONCLUSIONS
Repeat blood cultures in neonatal patients who have developed new symptoms >4 days after initial testing may be beneficial. The use of repeat blood culture is not recommended for any other indication.
Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan m.allawama@ju.edu.jo manar76@hotmail.com.
Manar
M
Al-Lawama
Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.
Eman
E
Badran
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001800:Blood Specimen Collection / Q000379:methods*; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D008297:Male
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
Blood culture; guidelines; neonate; practice; repeat