Staphylococcus aureus in a single positive blood culture: causes and outcome

Scand J Infect Dis. 2002;34(9):645-7. doi: 10.1080/00365540210147994.

Abstract

Single positive culture was encountered in 61/235 patients (26%) with Staphylococcus aureus in blood culture over a 2-y period. It represented either true bacteremia (n = 52 cases; 85.2%) or contamination (n = 9; 14.8%). In comparison to cases with < or = 2 positive cultures, these patients did not have less severe disease or a lower incidence of complications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Bacteremia / classification*
  • Bacteremia / complications
  • Bacteremia / mortality
  • Equipment Contamination
  • Humans
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Staphylococcal Infections / classification*
  • Staphylococcal Infections / complications
  • Staphylococcal Infections / mortality
  • Staphylococcus aureus / isolation & purification*