High mortality among patients with positive blood cultures at a Childrens Hospital in Tbilisi, Georgia

Abstract

A high mortality rate was seen among children, particularly neonates, with positive blood cultures at the largest paediatric hospital in Georgia. Because of limited laboratory capacity, microbiological identification of common organisms known to cause BSI in children was not possible and susceptibility testing was not performed. Improving the infrastructure of diagnostic microbiology laboratories in countries with limited resources is critical in order to improve patient care and clinical outcomes, and from a public health standpoint, to improve surveillance activities.