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Pediatric Blood Cultures, Page 1 of 2
< Previous page Next page > /docserver/preview/fulltext/10.1128/9781555819828/9781555819811_Chap08-1.gif /docserver/preview/fulltext/10.1128/9781555819828/9781555819811_Chap08-2.gifAbstract:
In pediatrics as in adult medicine, the clinical microbiology laboratory plays an integral role in providing accurate and timely data to aid in the diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of various infectious diseases. Because of the associated morbidity and mortality with bloodstream infection (BSI), blood cultures are among the most critical diagnostic tests in pediatric laboratory medicine. Despite the critical nature of the pediatric blood culture, there remains a great deal of myth and misunderstanding surrounding these cultures. The unique challenges associated with pediatric blood cultures include the wide range of patient blood volumes making one standard recommended culture volume impossible, an ever evolving epidemiology of sepsis due in large part to the availability of various vaccines, and a diverse range of clinical presentations due to the dynamic patient population, ranging from neonates through the late teenage years. This chapter focuses on these uniquely pediatric challenges.