Table 1

Blood culture isolates obtained

	Age (years)								Total
	18–29	30–39	40–49	50–59	60–69	70–79	80–89	⩾90	Total
The numbers of cases cultured and the culture results are shown, stratified by age.
Not cultured	1369	1238	1270	1575	2030	3051	2869	766	14168
No significant isolates	639	586	552	595	815	1468	1553	460	6668
Coagulase negative staphylococci	29	28	35	57	79	124	132	36	520
Diphtheroids	2	1	4	2	2	12	11	5	39
All significant isolates	38	35	27	38	57	151	157	33	536
Escherichia coli	7	4	5	5	15	50	49	11	146
Other Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas spp	5	3	2	6	11	12	28	6	73
Staphylococcus aureus	5	7	6	11	7	18	22	1	77
Streptococcus pneumoniae	3	6	1	3	12	16	10	3	54
β Haemolytic streptococci	1	3	2	3	1	11	11	1	33
Anaerobes		1				1	2		4
Fungi		1				1	2		4