YEILD OF BLOOD CULTURES IN CHILDREN PRESENTING WITH FEBRILE ILLNESS IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Abstract

Background: Blood stream infections (BSIs) leading to septicemias and systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) are an important cause of pediatric referral, admission and death. The objective of this study was to find out the yield of blood cultures in patients admitted with sepsis and fever without clear localizing signs.  Methodology: One year at POF Hospital Wah Cantt.  It was a cross-sectional prospective study. A total of 85 patients admitted in pediatric ward with complaints of a febrile illness , who had their blood sent for cultures and sensitivity at POF hospital WAH Cantt were included in the study. Results: Blood cultures yielded growth in only 8 out of 85 patients (95% confidence interval: 4.7 to 16.3%) .One sample was contaminated. The minimum age of patient was 1 month and maximum age was 12 years, mean age was 4.2 years. Majority of the patients (62, 72.9%) were under age of 6 years as compared to the age group between 10 to 12 years that comprised 23 patients (27%) only. There was a male preponderance as from the total 85 patients 58 (68.24%) were males and 27 patients (31.76%) were females. Cross tabulation between gender and yield of blood culture showed that a positive blood culture was obtained in all male patients and p value was significant at p<0.05. The correlation between total white cell counts and yield of blood cultures was not statistically significant (p>0.05).

KEYWORDS: Sepsis, Neonate and childhood sepsis, blood stream infections, blood culture and sensitivity, FWLS, SIRS