Gram Stain is Not Clinically Relevant in Treatment of Pediatric Septic Arthritis

Conclusions: The Gram stain result is a poor screening tool for the detection of SA and is particularly ineffective for the detection of gram-negative organisms. The clinical relevance of the Gram stain and cost-effectiveness of this test performed on every joint aspiration sent for culture requires additional evaluation. Patients with gram-negative SA may be at high risk for inadequate coverage with empiric antibiotics due to poor detection of gram-negative organisms on initial Gram stain. Level of Evidence: Level III—case-control study.
Source: Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics - Category: Orthopaedics Tags: Infection Source Type: research