Time to Blood Culture Positivity by Pathogen and Primary Service.

Objectives: Initiation and continuation of empirical antimicrobial agents for a 48-72-hour observation period is routine practice in the diagnosis and treatment of infants and children with concern for bacteremia. We examined blood cultures at a freestanding pediatric hospital over a 6-year period to determine the time to positivity.

Methods: Data were extracted for all patients who were hospitalized and had blood cultures drawn between January 2013 and December 2018.