Standards, options and guidelines for good clinical use of blood cultures in oncology

Excepting emergency and aplasia: two to three blood samples should be draw for culture an hour apart within a 24 period (standard). For emergency or aplasia: two to three blood samples should be drawn for cu lture before initiating early antibiotic therapy. The delay between samples drawn from different sites should be less than one hour (standard). For patients on antibiotics: four to six blood samples should be drawn for culture within 48 hours, outside ongoing antibiotic administration. If the patient is given corticosteroids, it is recommended to draw two or t hree blood samples in case of deterioration (agreement of the experts). Rigorous aseptic techniques must be used (standard). Culture media are chosen according to the institution's microbial ecology ( standard). The volume of blood drawn should be adapted to the system used (standard). Culture positivity is determined at 24 to 48 hours.