Simultaneous Two-site Blood Culture for Diagnosis of Neonatal Sepsis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate efficacy of two blood cultures taken simultaneously from two different sites as compared to standard practice of single blood culture in diagnosis of neonatal sepsis.


METHODS
Prospective cohort study.


METHODS
A tertiary-care center at a public hospital.


METHODS
475 neonates admitted to intensive care unit with suspected sepsis, from August 2014-July 2015.


METHODS
Two blood cultures drawn from two different peripheral veins in patients with suspected neonatal sepsis.


METHODS
Increase in culture-positivity rate with use of two blood cultures.


RESULTS
475 babies with suspected sepsis were enrolled. 185 patients had only first culture positive (38.9%). When we added second culture positivity, yield increased to 221 (46.5%). Adding on second culture increased the culture yield by 36 (7.6%; 95% CI 2.41 to 12.79; P=0.018). The most common organisms isolated were E. coli, S. aureus and Candida spp. Major morbidities and mortality were more common in blood culture positive patients Contamination was ruled out in 25 babies who grew Coagulase negative Staphylococcus (CONS) (n=10) and Candida spp. (n=15) in either of the two cultures.


CONCLUSIONS
Two blood cultures taken simultaneously from two different sites improve rate of pathogen detection as compared to routine practice of single blood culture.
Departments of Pediatrics and *Microbiology, LLRM Medical College, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India. Correspondence to: Dr Amit Upadhyay, Head, Department of Pediatrics, LLRM Medical college, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. (India). au.llrm@gmail.com.
Priya
P
Tomar
Amit
A
Garg
Rashee
R
Gupta
Abhishek
A
Singh
Navratan Kumar
NK
Gupta
Amit
A
Upadhyay
D016470:Bacteremia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000071997:Blood Culture / Q000379:methods*; D002175:Candida / Q000302:isolation & purification; D058387:Candidemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D000071074:Neonatal Sepsis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D011446:Prospective Studies