Analysis of blood cultures in cardiology intensive care unit

Abstract

The aim of study. To estimate the rate of positive blood cultures at Cardiology Intensive Care Unit (CICU) of Kaunas Hospital of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, profile of pathogens, to compare data of inflammatory markers and outcome in groups of coagulase-positive and coagulase-negative strains of Staphylococci. Material and methods. The retrospective analysis of 69 patients with blood culture taken at CICU in period of yr 2005-2010 with profile of sensitivy of strains to antibiotics, comparison of inflammatory markers as count of neutrophils and level of C-reactive protein and outcome in between groups of coagulase-positive and coagulase-negative strains of Staphylococci was carried out. Results. The rate positive blood cultures was 56% (n=37). Cocci were cultured in 81% of cases: Staphylococci in 53%, Streptococci - 16%, Enterococci - 12%, gramnegative rods (Serratia marcescens, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter cloaceae) in 11%, various other strains (Miceococcus spp., Corynebacterium spp.) in 8% in blood culture had fatal outcome, without signifficant difference (P=0,69). More than one microbe was cultured in 7 cases with prevalence of 69% of Staphylococci. [...].