Pan-culture
Formal Definition
The simultaneous collection of cultures from multiple body sites — typically including blood (two sets), urine, and any relevant site-specific samples (sputum, wound, CSF) — to maximize the likelihood of identifying a source of infection in a patient presenting with sepsis or fever of unknown origin.
How It's Used on the Ward
"Pan-culture the patient" or "we pan-cultured before antibiotics" — the broad initial culture strategy to catch the source before starting empiric treatment.
Example
""Patient presenting with fever to 39.8, HR 118, BP 88/56 with rigors: pan-cultured — two sets of blood cultures, urine culture, sputum culture from morning secretions — then started empiric broad-spectrum coverage.""
Clinical Context
The sequence matters: cultures BEFORE antibiotics whenever possible, as even one dose of antibiotics dramatically reduces yield, especially for blood cultures. Two sets of blood cultures = standard (one peripheral, one central if present) — this distinguishes true bacteremia from contaminants. Do NOT delay antibiotics in septic shock to obtain cultures — 1-hour bundle compliance matters. Pan-culture is especially important when the source is unclear: fever + rigors + no obvious source = blood, urine, chest imaging, plus any other suspicious site.
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