regimen being ampicillin or an ampicillin-aminoglycoside combination (295 episodes), whereas cephalosporins, thienamycin, and fluoroquinolones were seldom used (41 episodes). The ongoing antibiotic coverage was deemed appropriate in 41 8 episodes (60%), non-optimal in 90 (13%), and lacking in 186 (27%). The notification of positive blood cultures elicited changes in antibiotic therapy in 315 episodes (45%), including commencement of antibiotic therapy in 127 (18%). Thus, blood culture results have a measurable impact on antibiotic therapy.