Superficial cultures in neonatal sepsis evaluations. Impact on antibiotic decision making

• Published in: Clinical pediatrics Vol. 29; no. 8; p. 445
• Main Authors: Zuerlein, T J, Butler, J C, Yeager, T D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-08-1990
• Subjects: Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; Bacterial Infections - diagnosis; Bacterial Infections - drug therapy; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Retrospective Studies; Sepsis - diagnosis; Sepsis - drug therapy
• ISSN: 0009-9228
• DOI: 10.1177/000992289002900805

The authors performed a retrospective analysis of neonatal superficial cultures and their effect on antimicrobial decision making during a nine-month period at Nashville General Hospital. They obtained and reviewed charts of infants (n = 66) having paired superficial (skin and/or gastric aspirate) and deep (blood and cerebrospinal fluid) cultures for the evaluation of early-onset sepsis. Superficial cultures were positive for pathogens (any streptococcus or enteric gram-negative) in 15% (10/66) of cases. Antimicrobial decision making was affected in only one of these cases, and in a seemingly inappropriate manner. In summary, there was no evidence or review that superficial cultures used in sepsis evaluation influenced physician antimicrobial decision making; in one case they may have led to unnecessary antibiotic exposure.