blood culture?

nursie-babie, ASN, RN · May 12, 2006

A blood culture helps you know if there is an infection in the blood stream and, if they do a sensitivity, what antibiotics will kill the bacteria.

:monkeydance: :monkeydance: :monkeydance: :monkeydance: :monkeydance:

UM Review RN, ASN, RN · May 12, 2006

They're testing for sepsis, which means bad bacteria in the bloodstream. Usually the symptoms are low BP and a fever. If a patient has not had surgery and their temp goes over 101 F, we usually alert the doc and get an order to draw blood cultures (usually the lab draws two to three times, fifteen minutes apart), and after all have been drawn, THEN we start the antibiotic.

The doc will start the patient on broad-spectrum IV antibiotics, then when the exact bacteria is cultured, which takes a couple-three days, they'll do a "sensitivity" test, which will tell which antibiotics will fight that bacteria the best.

Here are a couple of websites to help you further:

http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/blood_culture/test.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sepsis

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacteremia

And of course, we're happy to answer any more questions.

grannynurse FNP student · May 12, 2006

I sometimes wonder if blood cultures are not being over done. In the past three weeks I have had four blood cultures drawn. Granted I am a diabetic, have an open wound but I have received three heavy duty antiodics for the same period of time. And before someone ask, serousanginous fluid is draining from the wound and my WBC has remained under 16,000. If I didn't know better, I would think someone if feeding a colony of bats:chuckle

Grannynurse

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · May 13, 2006

As to why they are ordering so many for you, I don't know.

However, on my neutropenic (leukemia/non-solid tumor) patients, they may be drawn up to every 24 hours for surveillance, if they are febrile (greater than 38.0 metric/100.4 f) while in treatment.

Retired R.N. · May 13, 2006

I sometimes wonder if blood cultures are not being over done. In the past three weeks I have had four blood cultures drawn. Granted I am a diabetic, have an open wound but I have received three heavy duty antiodics for the same period of time. And before someone ask, serousanginous fluid is draining from the wound and my WBC has remained under 16,000. If I didn't know better, I would think someone if feeding a colony of bats:chuckle
Grannynurse

This IS a bit unusual, isn't it? Did the mechanics also check your battery while they were at it? :-) I do hope your doctor(s) can find out what is causing this so they can get you started on the fast track to recovery. You've had this too long already!

Retired R.N.

lovemyjob · May 13, 2006

They also look for fungal infections in the blood (like yeast) and then they will end up with something like amphotericin, or another antifungal.

Daytonite, BSN, RN · May 13, 2006

here's one more source to look at on bacteremia which is what the blood cultures are checking for:

http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmanual/section13/chapter156/156b.jsp

this is what family practice notebook has to say about the procedure:

http://www.fpnotebook.com/id96.htm

grannynurse FNP student · May 13, 2006

This IS a bit unusual, isn't it? Did the mechanics also check your battery while they were at it? :-) I do hope your doctor(s) can find out what is causing this so they can get you started on the fast track to recovery. You've had this too long already!
Retired R.N.

The infectious disease guy said the whole thing started with a spider bite. Why a spider would biye me on yje back of my calf---well I can think of several more interesting spots to bite, if I were a spider;) My daughter let me take a look when she changed the dressing last night. I understand that my diabetes effects my healing but my blood sugars have been excellent for the last couple of months hC(?)was 5.7%. But it is hard to tell what condition the calf is in. It is black around the edges but it is red with good granulation. And no one has offer to check under my hood lately. And I don't think my SO would appreciate it:angryfire

Grannynurse:balloons:

zacarias, ASN, RN · May 14, 2006

Blood cultures are majorly expensive and I agree probably should be ordered more judiciously.

Some docs order blood cultures for any fever of 39 C.