Culture Aerobic Blood (Automated), Pediatric
Understanding Culture Aerobic Blood (Automated), Pediatric
What is Culture Aerobic Blood (Automated), Pediatric?
The Culture Aerobic Blood (Automated), Pediatric test detects and identifies the presence of bacteria or fungi in the blood of children aged 12 years or below. It helps diagnose bacterial infections of the blood (bacteremia), sepsis, and other infections that can become fatal if not timely treated. On identification of the organism, antibiotic susceptibilities are performed to aid in the selection of appropriate antibiotics for treatment.
Bacteremia or infections of the blood may be primary or occur secondary to infections at other sites of the body such as lungs, urinary tract, skin, etc., medical procedures, or due to invasive devices such as catheters. The Culture Aerobic Blood (Automated), Pediatric test identifies the aerobic bacteria or fungi (those that need oxygen for survival) that cause bacteremia or other severe infections. This helps the doctor select appropriate antibiotics to optimize treatment outcomes and minimize the development of antibiotic resistance.
The doctor may suggest this test if you experience symptoms suggestive of bacteremia, such as fever, chills, rapid heart rate, low blood pressure, nausea, vomiting, etc. The Culture Aerobic Blood (Automated), Pediatric test employs rapid automated cultures, which can identify the organisms earlier and with increased sensitivity compared to conventional culture.
No special preparation is needed for this test. However, inform the doctor about all the medications the child may be taking. This is because certain medications, such as antibiotics, can interfere with the test results and lead to false negatives if taken before the test. Your doctor may ask you to temporarily discontinue these medications to ensure accurate results.
Test result ranges are approximate and may differ slightly between labs. Talk to your doctor about your child’s specific test results. Based on these, the doctor analyzes which medications are best for treating the present condition and whether more testing or procedures are necessary to ensure effective therapy.
What is Culture Aerobic Blood (Automated), Pediatric used for?
The Culture Aerobic Blood (Automated), Pediatric test can be done:
- In case signs or symptoms of infection/sepsis, including fever, rapid heart rate, nausea, confusion, and reduced frequency of urination are noticed.
- In critically ill patients, individuals with recent infection, those with a history of recent surgery or valve replacement, or when there is a high risk of systemic infections.
- To monitor response to an ongoing treatment.
What does Culture Aerobic Blood (Automated), Pediatric measure?
The Culture Aerobic Blood (Automated), Pediatric test can help detect pathogens such as bacteria or fungi that can cause blood infections (bacteremia). Severe infection may lead to sepsis, which is a life-threatening emergency that needs immediate medical attention. Identifying the right cause of infection makes initiating treatment and formulating an effective treatment plan easier.
The Culture Aerobic Blood (Automated), Pediatric is a simple test in which the blood sample is placed in a special container designed to encourage the growth of aerobic bacteria that require oxygen for their survival. If test results are positive, the infection-causing bacteria is identified, and an antibiotic susceptibility test may be conducted to determine which antibiotics would be effective for treatment. If yeasts are the source of infection, appropriate treatment for yeast infections can be commenced.
Interpreting Culture Aerobic Blood (Automated), Pediatric results
Interpretations
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Two or more positive blood cultures for the same bacteria or fungi means that the person tested likely has a blood infection with that organism. The results typically identify the specific bacteria or fungi causing the infection.
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If one blood culture set is positive and one set is negative, it may mean that an infection or skin contaminant is present. In such cases, additional tests are done.
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If blood culture sets are negative after several days (no growth), then the probability that the person has a blood infection caused by bacteria or fungi is low.
Answers to Patient Concerns & Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Culture Aerobic Blood (Automated), Pediatric
Frequently Asked Questions about Culture Aerobic Blood (Automated), Pediatric
Q. Why is the Culture Aerobic Blood (Automated), Pediatric test important?
Q. What does aerobic mean in the context of bacterial culture?
Q. What are the risks associated with this test?
Q. What factors might affect the level of bacteria in the blood samples?
Q. What are the signs and symptoms of sepsis?
Q. What does a negative culture aerobic blood test result mean?
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References
- What is Sepsis? [Internet]. CDC; 24 Aug. 2023 [Accessed 28 Oct. 2023]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/sepsis/what-is-sepsis.html
- Sepsis. [Internet]. WHO; 19 Jul. 2023 [Accessed 28 Oct. 2023]. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/sepsis#:~:text=Sepsis%20is%20a%20serious%20condition,problems%20are%20at%20higher%20risk.
- Evans T. Diagnosis and management of sepsis. Clin Med (Lond). 2018 Mar;18(2):146-149. [Accessed 28 Oct. 2023]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6303466/
- Halperin AV, Del Castillo Polo JA, Cortes-Cuevas JL, Cardenas Isasi MJ, Ampuero Morisaki M, Birch R, Sánchez Díaz AM, Cantón R. Impact of Automated Blood Culture Systems on the Management of Bloodstream Infections: Results from a Crossover Diagnostic Clinical Trial. Microbiol Spectr. 2022 Oct 26;10(5):e0143622. [Accessed 28 Oct. 2023]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9602854/
- Dantes RB, Epstein L. Combatting Sepsis: A Public Health Perspective. Clin Infect Dis. 2018 Sep 28;67(8):1300-1302. [Accessed 28 Oct. 2023]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6557150/#:~:text=COMPREHENSIVE%20SEPSIS%20PREVENTION%20FRAMEWORK,of%20healthcare%2Dassociated%20infections).
- See KC. Management of sepsis in acute care. Singapore Med J. 2022 Jan;63(1):5-9. [Accessed 28 Oct. 2023]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9251222/#:~:text=Timely%20treatment%20of%20sepsis%20includes,an%20appropriate%20level%20of%20care.
- Bullock B, Benham MD. Bacterial Sepsis. [Updated 2023 May 21]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537054/
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