Volume 10, Number 9, September 2004

Computer Algorithms To Detect Bloodstream Infections

William E. Trick,* Brandon M. Zagorski,† Jerome I. Tokars,* Michael O. Vernon,† Sharon F. Welbel,†‡§ Mary F. Wisniewski,†‡ Chesley Richards,* and Robert A. Weinstein†‡§
*Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; †Chicago Antimicrobial Resistance Project, Chicago, Illinois, USA; ‡Cook County Hospital, Chicago, Illinois, USA; and §Rush Medical College, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Figure 1. Flowchart displaying the determinations necessary for categorizing positive blood culture by computer algorithm. The rules described in Table 1 are in bold. Blood cultures were obtained from patients at Cook County and Provident Hospitals, September 1, 2001–February 28, 2002, Chicago, Illinois. BSI, blood stream infection; CVC, central-venous catheter. ^aSame species isolated from blood within 30 days. ^bRule B1 or B2 (Table 1). ^cRule C1 or C2 (Table 1). ^dRule A (Table 1). ^eRule D (Table 1).

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This page last reviewed August 3, 2004

Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal
National Center for Infectious Diseases
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention