Septicemia/Bacteremia/Fungemia

• Question; When a patient has been admitted with urosepsis,as an example and has been determined by the physician to be bacteremic, have received antibiotics before the blood cultures have been drawn and thereby affecting the results showing negative culture. Coding convention for septicemia on p. 10 "defined as positive blood cultures".
  • How do you want these patients captured?? Is capturing cystitis with a bug if found adequate?
  • The same question can be used with the definitions for severe sepsis, and septic shock if applicable. We have seen people with negative cultures for reasons described above. They are exhibiting signs of either severe sepsis, or septic shock, but no bug isolated.--JHutton 11:13, 25 June 2008 (CDT)