TABLE 1.
Examples of common scenarios when initial blood cultures have high and low diagnostic utility for immunocompetent hostsa
| Diagnostic value of initial blood cultures | Exception |
|---|---|
| High diagnostic value | |
| Severe sepsis/septic shock | NA |
| Infections associated with high or intermediate risk of bacteremia | NA |
| Low diagnostic value | |
| Fever ± leukocytosis in stable patients without suspicion for endovascular infection | Patients with splenectomy |
| Postoperative fever within 48 h | Presence of severe sepsis/septic shock |
| Infections with low risk of bacteremia (e.g., cystitis, prostatitis, cellulitis, non-severe pneumonia, prosthetic joint infection) | Endovascular infection suspected |
| Presence of severe sepsis/septic shock | |
| Persistent febrile neutropenia in hemodynamically stable patients with 2 negative sets | NA |