Table 1.

Late-onset bloodstream infection criteria according to the Brazilian Agency of Sanitary Surveillance

Laboratory-confirmed BSI

Criteria 1: A positive blood culture from a non-skin contaminant microorganism and not related to an infection at another site. Criteria 2: Signs and symptoms not related to a non-infectious cause and to an infection at another site AND a common skin contaminant microorganism cultured from two or more blood cultures drawn on separate occasions OR coagulase-negative staphylococci cultured from a single blood culture if a central venous catheter is present.

Clinically-confirmed BSI

Signs and symptoms not related to a non-infectious cause and not related to an infection at another site AND a haematological score of Rodwell [15] ⩾3 or C-reactive protein (CRP) >10 mg/l AND a blood culture not done or no microorganisms detected in blood AND physician instituted treatment for sepsis.

Signs and symptoms: temperature instability, bradycardia, apnoea, poor feeding, respiratory distress, glucose intolerance, haemodynamic instability or diminished spontaneous activity/lethargy.