Table 1

 Studies in which stringent precautions were taken to reduce contamination

First authorDateAge range of patientsPostmortem intervalSampleNNo growthSingle isolateMixed growth
*The isolation rate is artificially low because not all contaminants are listed.
Fredette 319164 months to 84 years<30 minBlood11965%26%9%
Giordano41922Adults1–23 hBlood20662%
Spleen19061%
Hunt51929Adults1–12 hBlood56769%
Burn619340–90 years1–48 h, <12 h in 84%Blood13463%22%15%
Spleen13655%
Adelson8195610 days to 24 monthsBlood12079%
CSF38100%
Kurtin9195831–85 years1–48 h, <24 h in 74%Blood5080%
Spleen5076%
Carpenter1019640–90 years1–18 hBlood203368%25%7%
Wood1119650–90 years1–48 h <15 h in 65%Blood6229%50%21%
O’Toole131965Adults<20 hSpleen5474%
Minckler1419661–90 years<24 hVarious solid organs73866%
Roberts151969AdultsBlood10063%
Spleen10077%
Koneman1619717–75 years1–23 hBlood9161%
Wise18197631–91 yearsMean 24 hSpleen19287.5%11%1.5%
Pryse-Davies191979Perinatal, <1 month37% <24 h, 28% >48 hBlood79779%17%4%
CSF47988%10%2%
Eisenfield 201983Neonatal, <1 month<2 h in 293Blood31162%
CSF31184%
Sonnabend*21198521–355 days80% <24 hBlood, liver, brain, spleen7089%10%1%
Sadler2319980–2 yearsMedian 5 hBlood4520%
CSF6157%
Spleen2162%
CESDI-SUDI2420007–365 days28% in <24 h, 33% in <48 hBlood28750%5%45%
CSF27976%3%21%