Yield of positive blood cultures in pediatric oncology patients by a new method of blood culture collection

Abstract

Although factors such as more aggressive chemotherapy or a different spectrum of malignant diseases may contribute to the statistically significant increase in identification of bacteremic patients, a standardized method of blood culture collection is merited. The consistent volumes of blood per culture and the minimum of two cultures per febrile episode follow the principles of blood culture collection established for adults. The same principles should apply to pediatric patients.