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. 2003 Nov;20(6):521–523. doi: 10.1136/emj.20.6.521

Utility of blood cultures in the management of adults with community acquired pneumonia discharged from the emergency department

S Campbell 1, T Marrie 1, R Anstey 1, S Ackroyd-Stolarz 1, G Dickinson 1
PMCID: PMC1726243  PMID: 14623837

Abstract

Study Objective: To assess the clinical value of blood cultures (BCs) in the management of adult patients discharged from the emergency department (ED) with a diagnosis of community acquired pneumonia (CAP).

Methods: The courses of antibiotic regimens and outcomes of patients with positive BC results were examined to assess their influence on BCs.

Results: BCs were obtained from 289 outpatients. Six clinically significant organisms were identified (a yield of 2.1%). Outpatients with CAP who had blood cultures performed had a 0.69% (2 of 289) chance of having a change of treatment directed by the results of the culture.

Conclusion: BCs have little utility in the ambulatory management of CAP.

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Selected References

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