Clinical condition and comorbidity as determinants for blood culture positivity in patients with skin and soft-tissue infections
Publication year
2017Source
European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, 36, 10, (2017), pp. 1853-1858ISSN
Publication type
Article / Letter to editor
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Organization
IQ Healthcare
Primary and Community Care
Internal Medicine
Journal title
European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
Volume
vol. 36
Issue
iss. 10
Page start
p. 1853
Page end
p. 1858
Subject
Radboudumc 18: Healthcare improvement science RIHS: Radboud Institute for Health Sciences; Radboudumc 4: lnfectious Diseases and Global Health RIHS: Radboud Institute for Health SciencesAbstract
The utility of performing blood cultures in patients with a suspected skin infection is debated. We investigated the association between blood culture positivity rates and patients' clinical condition, including acute disease severity and comorbidity. We performed a retrospective study, including patients with cellulitis and wound infection who had been enrolled in three Dutch multicenter studies between 2011 and 2015. Patients' acute clinical condition was assessed using the Modified Early Warning Score (MEWS; severe: MEWS >/=2) and comorbidity with the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI; severe: CCI >/=2). A total of 334 patients with a suspected skin infection were included. Blood cultures were performed in 175 patients (52%), 28 of whom (16%) had a positive blood culture. Data on the clinical condition were collected in 275 patients. Blood cultures were performed in 76% of the patients with a severe acute condition, compared with 48% with a non-severe acute condition (OR 3.5; 95% confidence interval: 2.0-6.2; p < 0.001). Blood cultures were positive in 18% and 12% respectively (OR 1.7 (0.7-4.1); p = 0.3). Blood cultures were performed in 53% of patients with severe comorbidity, compared with 61% without severe comorbidity (OR 0.7; 0.4-1.2; p = 0.2). Blood cultures were positive in 25% and 10% respectively (OR = 3.1; 1.2-7.5; p = 0.02). The blood culture positivity rate among hospitalized patients diagnosed with skin infections was higher than the rates reported by the Infectious Diseases Society of America guidelines, particularly in patients with severe comorbidity. Therefore, the recommendations concerning blood culture performance in patients with a skin infection should be reconsidered.
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- Academic publications [238441]
- Electronic publications [122508]
- Faculty of Medical Sciences [90373]
- Open Access publications [97504]
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