Are routine blood cultures indicated in patients admitted with CAP?
Core measures include two expectations in regard to blood cultures. First, if blood cultures are drawn in the emergency department, they should be drawn prior to administration of antibiotics. Second, blood cultures should be drawn within a 24-hour window before or after transfer or admission to the ICU, if transfer occurs during the first 24 hours of admission. There are few available data to support using blood cultures to manage CAP. Studies reviewed revealed that they are infrequently positive (1%-16%) and infrequently lead to change in management (0%-5%), especially in low-risk patients. • Level A recommendation. None speciied. • Level B recommendation. Do not routinely obtain blood cultures in patients admitted with CAP. • Level C recommendation. Consider obtaining blood cultures in higher-risk patients admitted with CAP (e.g., severe disease, immunocompromise, significant comorbidities, or other risk factors for infection with resistant organisms). Question 2: In adult patients
