Blood cultures are usually used in the detection of yeasts or bacteria in the blood as well as for the identification of microorganisms that are present in the blood and also as a treatment guide. More than one blood culture is usually ordered and consecutive samples are collected. Along with the blood culture a CBC (complete blood count) is also ordered in order to determine if the individual has an increase in the amount of white cells which in turn indicates that there is an infection.
A culture may be ordered by a doctor when the patient seems to be having sepsis symptoms indicating that yeast, bacteria or other by-products that are toxic are causing the body harm. The patient with sepsis shows the following symptoms:
- Fever with chills
- Rapid heartbeat and breathing
- Nausea
- A degree of confusion
- Less/decreased output of urine
Other symptoms that are more severe in nature may also include body inflammation and the formation of small blood clots in the tiniest of blood vessels. Furthermore, body organs may stop functioning and there could be a drop in the patient’s blood pressure that could be dangerous.
It is therefore obvious that these cultures should be drawn when there are apparent symptoms. It is important to know that if a person has had a surgical procedure, recent infection, a replacement of a heart valve or any immune-suppressive therapy, then the individual is definitely at a much higher risk of systemic infection. Doctors usually draw blood cultures in young children and newborns that have infection even though they do not show the typical symptoms of sepsis.
Test results of blood cultures will tell you if the patient needs to be immediately treated in a hospital. If the culture results are positive then it shows that the individual has a yeast or bacterial infection in the blood steam and needs to be treated at once. It is also important to note that sepsis is life threatening if it is diagnosed in immune-compromised patients. Doctors who are treating such patients start them on broad spectrum intravenous antibiotics to combat the bacteria.
Skin contamination could also cause a “false positive” result. If two results are positive with the same yeast and bacteria then it could be that the blood culture micro-organism is the cause of the infection. In case a blood culture set is negative while another set is positive, then it is due to a contamination or infection.
If an individual has sepsis due to yeasts or bacteria that is low, then the culture results will be reported as “negative” or “no growth”. However, in case there is a persistent symptom like a fever that does not recede then there has to be extra testing. Symptoms that persist even if the blood culture results are negative are due to:
Certain microorganisms find growth difficult in culture and thus the use of specific nutrient media has to be carried out for pathogen identification.
If a blood culture bottle that is designed for bacteria growth is used then viruses can’t be detected. In case there is a suspicion of a viral infection being the reason for the patient’s symptoms then laboratory tests should also be performed.
When yeasts or bacteria spread throughout a person’s body then the person has sepsis and experiences various symptoms. The person’s immune system struggles to fight and overcome the said infection and in turn produces factors to battle against the infection. This too can cause a person to feel sick.