Table 1 Characteristics of patients with blood cultures in emergency department.

Characteristics of patients	True bacteremia	Contamination	True negative	P
Characteristics of patients	n = 56	n = 50	n = 143	P
Mean age, y (SD)	72 (11.2)	75.5 (10.2)	67.2 (18.3)	0.003
Male sex, n (%)	32 (57.1)	35 (70.0)	80 (55.9)	0.211
Major comorbidities, n (%)
Malignancy	30 (53.6)	25 (50.0)	62 (43.4)	0.387
Diabetes mellitus	13 (23.2)	16 (32.0)	36 (25.2)	0.55
Hypertension	31 (55.4)	33 (66.0)	53 (37.1)	0.001
Previous stroke	4 (7.1)	3 (6.0)	18 (12.7)	0.296
Chronic renal insufficiency	6 (10.7)	4 (8.0)	10 (7.0)	0.688
Liver cirrhosis	1 (1.8)	3 (6.0)	1 (0.7)	0.071
Coronary artery diseases	9 (16.1)	4 (8.0)	13 (9.1)	0.29
Dementia	4 (7.3)	5 (10.0)	8 (5.6)	0.545
Quick SOFA, n (%)
0	16 (28.6)	19 (38.0)	61 (42.7)	0.009
1	15 (26.8)	15 (30.0)	53 (37.1)
2	19 (33.9)	11 (22.0)	27 (18.9)
3	6 (10.7)	5 (10.0)	2 (1.4)
Origin of infection, n (%)
Central nervous system	2 (3.6)	2 (4.0)	5 (3.5)	0.987
Pulmonary	6 (10.7)	17 (34.0)	53 (37.1)	0.001
Cardiovascular system	3 (5.4)	0 0.0	7 (4.9)	0.27
Abdomen	11 (19.6)	14 (28.0)	32 (22.4)	0.581
Urinary tract	21 (37.5)	2 (4.0)	26 (18.2)	< 0.001
Skin	5 (8.9)	2 (4.0)	5 (3.5)	0.264
Other	8 (14.3)	13 (26.0)	15 (10.5)	0.027

SD standard deviation, SOFA sequential organ failure assessment, ACHX 1.0% alcohol/chlorhexidine gluconate, CV central venous; Femoral, femoral artery or vein; Other types, alcohol and benzalkonium; Other, recently inserted arterial catheter and implanted port; PVI, 10% aqueous povidone-iodine; Venous, venipuncture without catheter insertion; Venous catheter, recently inserted venous catheter.
Origin of infection means the cause of infection, as judged based on medical chart review including other cultures and various diagnostic modalities.
Central nervous system included meningitis, encephalitis, and brain abscess. Pulmonary included pneumonia, bronchitis, pleuritis, and upper respiratory infection. Cardiovascular system included endocarditis and pericarditis. Abdomen included cholangitis, gastroenteritis, cancer of gastrointestinal tract, hepatitis, cholecystitis, appendicitis, and pancreatitis. Urinary tract included pyelonephritis, cystitis, and prostatitis. Skin included decubitus, cellulitis, impetigo, and erysipelas. Other included febrile neutropenia and cases in which the source of infection could not be identified.

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