Blood cultures in bacteremia.

Blood cultures in a 700-bed hospital were examined for clinical relevance. During a six-month period 5,154 blood samples were drawn from 1,091 patients. Of the 124 patients with positive blood cultures, 7% had polymicrobic isolates. A review of hospital records for a three-year period revealed 162 charts with adequate documentation for evaluation of bacteremia. An additional 11 charts were found with inappropriately negative blood cultures. Fifteen percent of these patients were found to have polymicrobic isolates. The importance of establishing guidelines and criteria concerning acceptable blood culture practices is detailed.