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Volume 10, Number 9—September 2004
Research

Computer Algorithms To Detect Bloodstream Infections

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

Main Article

Table 2

Positive blood cultures as categorized by computer rules or infection control professional (ICP) review, compared to investigator review,a Cook County Hospital, Chicago, IL

Determination Method No. culturesc Sensitivity (%) Specificity (%) κ
Hospital vs. community acquisition Computer rule A 77 97 73 0.74
ICP review 77 94 67 0.62
Infection vs. contaminationd Computer rule B2e 43 77 71 0.49
ICP review 43 77 76 0.53
Primary vs. secondary Computer rule C2f 76 90 57 0.49
ICP review 76 83 64 0.48

aOur reference standard.
bThe single best rule for each determination is displayed.
cSince all determinations were not made for each blood culture, e.g., contaminants often were not further categorized, the number of cultures evaluated varies.
dInfection determination is presented for common skin commensals only; other organisms were considered as infections; see Table 1 for definitions.
eRule B2 evaluated microbiology and pharmacy results; see Table 1.
fRule C2 evaluated microbiology results during the entire length of stay; see Table 1.

Main Article

Page created: March 25, 2011
Page updated: March 25, 2011
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