How reliable is a negative blood culture result? Volume of blood submitted for culture in routine practice in a children's hospital.

Objectives: The primary aims of this study were to determine the volume of blood submitted for culture in routine clinical practice and to establish the proportion of blood cultures with a blood volume inadequate for reliable detection of bacteremia.

Methods: The volumes of blood samples submitted for culture from infants and children up to 18 years of age were measured over a 6-month period. Blood cultures were deemed adequate submissions if they contained an appropriate (age-related) volume of blood and were submitted in the correct blood culture bottle type.

Invasive Haemophilus parainfluenzae maternal-infant infections: an Australasian perspective and case report.

Maternal and neonatal infection with Haemophilus parainfluenzae is an unusual but potentially life-threatening occurrence. We present a case of H. parainfluenzae complicating pregnancy in the second trimester.

Tuberculous meningitis and HIV.

Objective: To identify factors associated with HIV-infected status in children admitted with tuberculous meningitis (TBM), and to find out whether HIV co-infection affects in-hospital outcome.

Methods: This prospective hospital-based study was conducted from May 2000 to August 2003. All consecutive children, aged 1 month to 12 years of age, admitted with a diagnosis of TBM were enrolled.