B. Secondary Variables 
1. Frequency and duration of infections. An infection is defined as follows: 
a. Bacteremia 
Bacteremia will be defined as the occurrence of one or more positive 
blood cultures with any organism regardless of associated symptoms. A 
bacteremia event will be defined by the occurrence of a positive blood 
culture, even if it contains multiple organisms (polymicrobial). All positive 
cultures will be recorded. Micrococcus or Corvnebacterium species or 
aerobic diphtheroids (other than JK) may be excluded as a laboratory 
contaminant after consultation with Infectious Disease. 
b. Septicemia 
Septicemia will be defined as bacteremia ^fungpmia in conjunction with: 
1) Hypotension (systolic BP < 90, and/or a diastolic BP < 60) which 
occurs within 24 hours of the positive culture 
2) Disseminated intravascular coagulation [decreased fibrinogen and 
increased fibrin degradation product] which is documented within 
24 hours of the positive culture. 
0 
c. * Fungemia 
Fungemia will be defined as the occurrence of one or more positive blood 
cultures with any fungus regardless of associated symptoms. Aspergillus 
in the blood without other systemic evidence of Aspergillus infection may 
be excluded as a laboratory contaminant after consultation with Infectious 
Disease. 
ft Fever 
Fever will be defined as one ora] temperature > 38.5° or two or more > 
38° in one 12-hour period Fever associated with infection will be defined 
as fever within 24 hours of the occurrence of one or more of the 
categories; 1,0, 2.0, 3.0, or 5.0. 
e. Local /organ-specific infection 
1) Cellulitis will be defined by: 
a) localized erythema and/or swelling and a positive aspirate 
or biopsy culture of the area for an organism other than 
coagulase-negative Staphylococcus. 
b) local erythema and swelling associated with a positive 
blood culture (or two or more positive blood cultures when 
the organism is coagulase-negative Staphylococcus) in the 
absence of a positive local culture. 
2) Pneumonia 
a) Infectious pneumonia will be defined as a new or 
progressing pulmonary radiographic infiltrate (by 
retrospective review) and identification of an infectious 
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