Value of Blood Culture in Diagnosis of Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome in Sepsis

Sepsis is a rapidly progressive and life-threatening syndrome. It is defined as a systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). In order to achieve acceptable clinical outcomes and reduce mortality and morbidity associated with sepsis، accurate and timely diagnosis of this syndrome is very important. The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity of one of the most common tests used in the diagnosis of sepsis (blood culture) with SIRS in teaching hospitals in Arak، Iran. In this analytical study، 289 patients who had been admitted to teaching hospitals in Arak and consented to participate were evaluated. Patients were only included if they had received intravenous antibiotics for less than 24 hours and their blood culture was performed during the past 24 hours. The results of blood cultures were evaluated in two groups of SIRS+ and SIRS-. The sensitivity and specificity of the test were then determined. Of 289 studied samples، 215 (74. 6%) patients were SIRS+ and 74 (25. 6%) were SIRS-. In cultured samples، 29 (10. 03%) were positive but only 6. 9% were true positive. However، 3. 1% of the samples were contaminated. The sensitivity and specificity of blood culture were 9. 3% and 87. 84%، respectively. According to the importance of accurate and timely diagnosis of sepsis and low sensitivity of blood culture، it seems that decision making based on clinical symptoms and testing indications and standards is essential.