Can the main infectious laboratory data estimate blood culture positivity in the emergency department
Abstract
Aims: The aim of this study was to predict the positivity of patients admitted to the emergency department with blood cultures according to laboratory results.
Method: Patients admitted to a university emergency department in the previous year with blood cultures were retrospectively analysed, and laboratory and vital signs were compared with blood culture positivity.
Results: Retrospective analysis of patients whose blood cultures were obtained in the emergency department showed that increases in C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT), which are acute phase reactants, correlated with blood culture positivity. In addition, the increase in fever, which is one of the vital signs, was also correlated with blood culture positivity. When the laboratory values in our study were analysed, it was found that blood culture was positive when the CRP value was 171.15 ± 121.344 mg/L, and the PCT value was 14.30 ± 25.910 µg/L.
Conclusion: As a result of our study, we found that blood culture positivity can be poorly predicted in patients with high CRP and PCT who present to the emergency department, especially due to infection findings.
Keywords
Ethical Statement
References
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Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Emergency Medicine
Journal Section
Research Article
Authors
İlhan Korkmaz
0000-0001-5182-3136
Türkiye
Yusuf Kenan Tekin
0000-0001-8047-4836
Türkiye
Sefa Yurtbay
0000-0002-7373-1002
Türkiye
Şimşek Çelik
0000-0003-1574-235X
Türkiye
Onur Türkdoğan
0000-0002-2157-4228
Türkiye
Publication Date
March 12, 2026
Submission Date
June 12, 2025
Acceptance Date
September 4, 2025
Published in Issue
Year 2026 Volume: 6 Number: 1