Collecting Blood: Blood Cultures

Introduction

  • Blood is normally sterile. Any bacterial growth in the bloodstream is abnormal, and is an important cause of fever.
  • Blood culture means the incubation of blood in appropriate media to allow growth and identification of bacteria or other organisms that may be present in a patient’s bloodstream.
  • Blood cultures are performed on febrile patients to identify and treat bloodborne organisms with the most appropriate antibiotic.

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