TABLE 1.

Microbiological data of the study population at onset of suspected septic events

Parameter	No. (%) of suspected septic events	No. of cultures positive by Staphylococcus- specific PCR
Blood culturesa	215
Two negative cultures	183 (85.1)
One positive culture	23 (10.7)
Two positive cultures	9 (4.2)
No. of events with positive blood cultures
Gram-positive bacteria
Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus	9 (28.1)	5
Staphylococcus aureus	4 (12.5)	4
Alpha-hemolytic Streptococcus species	1 (3.1)
Other (Leuconostoc, Sarcina species)	2 (6.2)
Gram-negative bacteria
Klebsiella species	2 (6.2)
Escherichia species	3 (9.4)
Other (Enterobacter species, Proteus mirabilis, Providencia species, Citrobacter species, unidentified bacillus)	6 (18.7)
Candida species	5 (15.6)

^aTwo aerobic blood cultures were drawn at the onset of every suspected septic event.