3.3. Sepsis among adult patients
The overall positivity of blood culture examination was 10.6% based on 71 studies in adult patients (Table 1). Compared toeastern China, the positivity was mildly but significantly higher in central China, and lower in western China. Between 2005 and
2009, the positivity tended to decline over time.The proportions of Gram (+) bacteria, Gram () bacteria, and fungus were 47.2%, 44.5%, and 6.4%, respectively, among identified microorganisms based on 84 studies (Table 2). No significant difference was found between the proportions of Gram (+) and Gram () bacteria. Compared to eastern China, central China had a significantly higher proportion of Gram (+) bacteria, but lower