Characteristics of bacterial species in positive blood cultures among hospitalized patients in three wards in the department of internal medicine: Retrospective chart review 1999-2008

Abstract

Objective This study aimed to establish the clinical significance of positive blood cultures during the past 10 years in Saga University Hospital. Methods All hospitalized patients with positive blood cultures in the gastroenterology, hepatology and respiratory wards in the Department of Internal Medicine, Saga University Hospital were evaluated by retrospective chart review between January 1999 and December 2008. The results were compared between period I (1999-2003) and period II (2004-2008). Results During the study, 2,680 isolates from 22,694 samples (11.8%) were detected in Saga University Hospital: 106 (13.1%) isolates from 812 samples were detected in the gastroenterology ward; 71 (7.8%) from 914 in the hepatology ward; and 160 (6.0%) from 2,671 in the respiratory ward. The number of positive blood cultures increased during period II compared with period I in all three wards. The ratio of Gramnegative rods increased in the gastroenterology ward during period II (p<0.05). The ratio of Gram-positive cocci was higher in the respiratory ward compared with the other two wards (p<0.05 in each). In contrast, the ratio of Gram-negative rods was higher in the gastroenterology and hepatology wards (p<0.05 in each). Fungemia increased in the gastroenterology and respiratory wards in period II (p<0.05 in each). Conclusion The trends in bacterial species in positive blood cultures differed between the gastroenterology, hepatology and respiratory wards. This could be important for decision making regarding antimicrobial therapy in the early therapeutic phase. © 2012 The Japanese Society of Internal Medicine.