title: A retrospective study of factors which determine a negative blood culture in Cambodian children diagnosed with enteric fever.
abstract: Blood cultures are used to confirm a diagnosis of enteric fever but reported sensitivities can be as low as 40%.
  
  
  
  To determine the factors associated with a negative blood culture in Cambodian children with suspected enteric fever.
  
  
  
  In a retrospective study of hospitalised Cambodian children given a discharge diagnosis of enteric fever, the following factors associated with a negative blood culture were analysed: age, blood culture volume, prior antibiotic therapy, duration of illness and disease severity.
  
  
  
  In 227 hospitalised Cambodian children with a discharge diagnosis of enteric fever, it was confirmed in 70% by a positive blood culture. There was no association between a negative blood culture and younger age, lower blood volumes for culture, prior antibiotic therapy, a late presentation or milder disease.
  
  
  
  Although blood culture sensitivity was higher than expected, alternative simple, rapid and sensitive tests are needed for diagnosing enteric fever.
authors.affiliation: a Angkor Hospital for Children , Siem Reap , Cambodia.|b Department of Infectious Diseases , Addenbrookes Hospital , Cambridge , UK.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bousfield
authors.affiliation: a Angkor Hospital for Children , Siem Reap , Cambodia.
authors.forename: Miliya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thyl
authors.affiliation: a Angkor Hospital for Children , Siem Reap , Cambodia.
authors.forename: Orng
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Samol
authors.affiliation: a Angkor Hospital for Children , Siem Reap , Cambodia.
authors.forename: Loet
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rithea
authors.affiliation: a Angkor Hospital for Children , Siem Reap , Cambodia.
authors.forename: Soeng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sona
authors.affiliation: a Angkor Hospital for Children , Siem Reap , Cambodia.
authors.forename: Hor Put
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Chhat
authors.affiliation: a Angkor Hospital for Children , Siem Reap , Cambodia.
authors.forename: Sar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Poda
authors.affiliation: a Angkor Hospital for Children , Siem Reap , Cambodia.|c Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine , Mahidol University , Bangkok , Thailand.|d Centre for Tropical Medicine, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine , University of Oxford , UK.
authors.forename: Cartin E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.affiliation: a Angkor Hospital for Children , Siem Reap , Cambodia.
authors.forename: Kheng
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chheng
authors.affiliation: a Angkor Hospital for Children , Siem Reap , Cambodia.
authors.forename: Varun
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: c Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine , Mahidol University , Bangkok , Thailand.|d Centre for Tropical Medicine, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine , University of Oxford , UK.
authors.forename: Nicholas P J
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Day
authors.affiliation: c Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine , Mahidol University , Bangkok , Thailand.|e Clinical Sciences , Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine , UK.
authors.forename: Christopher M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Parry
mesh_terms: D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D000071997:Blood Culture / Q000379:methods*; D002160:Cambodia; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012485:Salmonella typhi / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014435:Typhoid Fever / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*
keywords: Angkor Hospital for Children; Blood culture; Cambodia; Children; Enteric fever; Paediatric; Salmonella; Typhoid
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