Bacteremia was discovered within 24 hours of collection in 91% of hospitalized, febrile infants aged ≤90 days.
The time to positivity (TTP) of blood cultures collected from febrile (body temperature ≥38.0°C) infants aged ≤90 days admitted to general pediatric services (not intensive care units) was determined at 17 U.S. hospital systems. Infants with surgical histories were excluded.
Among 392 pathogenic cultures that met study inclusion criteria, the mean TTP was 15 hours (standard deviation, 8 hours). Thirty-nine cultures were categorized as common contaminants (viridans group streptococci, 32; coagulase-negative Staphylococcus, 5; Micrococcus spp, 1; Bacillus spp, 1). The mean TTP did not change significantly when the contaminated blood cultures were excluded.
By 24 hours after collection, 91% of blood cultures were positive. By 36 hours and 48 hou…
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DisclosuresGrant/Research SupportNIH Institutional Clinical and Translational Science Award; Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality National Center for Pediatric Practice Based Research Learning; Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute
Editorial BoardsCurrent Problems in Pediatric Adolescent Healthcare
Leadership Positions in Professional Societies College of Physicians of Philadelphia (Board of Trustees)
DisclosuresGrant/Research SupportNIH Institutional Clinical and Translational Science Award; Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality National Center for Pediatric Practice Based Research Learning; Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute
Editorial BoardsCurrent Problems in Pediatric Adolescent Healthcare
Leadership Positions in Professional Societies College of Physicians of Philadelphia (Board of Trustees)