Clinical Scenario

A 41-year-old man known to be HIV-positive presents with a 2-day history of fever (38.9°C), rigors, and general malaise. He is on antiretroviral therapy but his last CD4 count was 180 cells/mm³. The admitting team suspects bacteraemia and has requested blood cultures before commencing antibiotics.

Please take blood cultures from this patient and answer the examiners questions.