General

Synonym/Acronym:
N/A

Rationale
To provide a quick identification of gram-negative or gram-positive organisms to assist in medical management.

Patient Preparation
There are no food, fluid, activity, or medication restrictions unless by medical direction.

Normal Findings
N/A

Critical Findings and Potential Interventions

• Any positive results in blood, cerebrospinal fluid, or any body cavity fluid.
• Specific infectious organisms are required to be reported to local, state, and national departments of health. Lists of specific organisms may vary among facilities. State health departments provide information regarding reportable diseases, which can be accessed at each state health department Web site. The CDC provides information regarding national notifiable diseases at https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/search-results-year/.

Timely notification to the requesting health-care provider (HCP) of any critical findings and related symptoms is a role expectation of the professional nurse. A listing of these findings varies among facilities.