Analytical Procedures for Blood Culture Flashcards
What are the most common sources of blood culture contamination?
insufficient disinfection, improper collection, collection through an indwelling catheter
What are the three most common Continuous Monitoring Blood Culture systems (CMBC)?
BacTec, BacT, VersaTrek
Describe the principle for BacTec.
Positive growth is detected by a change in the concentration of CO2. This change is detected fluorometrically.
Describe the principle for BacT.
Positive growth is detected by a change in the concentration of CO2. This change is detected colormetrically.
Describe the principle for VersaTrek.
Positive growth is detected by a change in pressure. Changes in the concentration of CO2, H2, and O2 are continuously monitored.
The majority of endocarditis infections tend to be this gram reaction:
gram positive
What is the most common intravascular infection?
Endocarditis
What are the most common organisms that cause endocarditis?
Viridans strep of the oral cavity and Staph aureus
Which patients are most at risk for endocarditis?
Ones with endocardial abnormalities or previous valve surgery
What is another word for heart vegetation?
Excrescence
How do most heart vegetations form?
Fibrin-platelet thrombi on the surface of the endocardium “catch” bacteria as they circulate.
What is a septic emboli?
Large vegetations that have broken off from the endocardium and have traveled through the bloodstream. Fungi and gram negative bacilli are likely to do this.
Which side of the heart do most endocarditis infections occur?
The left side (high pressure side)
Which organisms are likely to infect the right side of the heart and why?
Bacillus species, Candida species, or P. aeruginosa. These organisms are commonly seen in contaminated intravenous injection drug use.
What are a few examples of organisms that can cause endocarditis but will not grow in culture? What is the preferred method of detection for these organisms?
C.pneumoniae, Coxiella burnetti, and Bartonella species. Serological or molecular methods.
Which organisms cause early stage intravascular hardware infections?
coagulase negative staph, diptheroids, or organisms that cause wound infections (gnb and yeast)
Which organisms cause late stage intravascular hardware infections?
Viridans strep of the oral cavity and Staph aureus
What are the most serious complications of endocarditis?
Cardiac valve rupture that results in heart failure and metastatic disease caused from septic emboli. Septic emboli can also cause kidney failure and stroke.
What are the clinical characteristics of septicemia?
Fever, chills, malaise, tachycardia, hyperventilation, and toxicity.
Sepsis is traditionally associated with organisms that have this gram reaction:
gram negative