J Perinatol. 2024 Nov 2. doi: 10.1038/s41372-024-02158-0. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To assess the usefulness of time to positivity (TTP) to distinguish between sepsis and contamination in coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) isolates.
STUDY DESIGN: Unicentric retrospective observational. Medical records of 168 patients with suspected sepsis and positive blood culture for CoNS were reviewed. Patients were subdivided into sepsis (29%) and probable contamination (71%). Logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate different risk factors and clinical signs and symptoms associated with sepsis.
RESULTS: TTP cut-off value that best discriminated sepsis from contamination was found to be 18 h. Regression analysis revealed that TTP ≤ 18 h, gestational age ≤32 weeks, taquycardia/bradycardia and hypoactivity/lethargy were independent predictors of sepsis.
CONCLUSION: TTP is useful in distinguishing sepsis from contamination, especially in neonates with lower gestational age (<32 weeks). The clinical signs that most increase the discriminatory power of TTP are the presence of tachycardia/bradycardia or hypoactivity.
PMID:39488666 | DOI:10.1038/s41372-024-02158-0
