scholarly journals 81. Reducing Unnecessary Blood Cultures Through Diagnostic Stewardship

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S157-S157
Author(s):  
Sujeet Govindan ◽  
Luke Strnad
Keyword(s):  
Blood Culture ◽  
Positive Blood Culture ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Bloodstream Infections ◽  
Central Line ◽  
Blood Cultures ◽  
Coagulase Negative Staphylococci ◽  
Candida Sp ◽  
Daily Frequency ◽  
Oregon Health

Abstract Background At our institution, we learned the frequency of blood cultures was sometimes being changed from “Once” to “Daily” without a defined number of days. We hypothesized this led to unnecessary blood cultures being performed. Methods Over a 3 month period from 12/6/2019-3/6/2020, we retrospectively evaluated the charts of patients who had a blood culture frequency changed to “Daily”. We evaluated if there was an initial positive blood culture within 48 hours of the “Daily” order being placed and the number of positive, negative, or “contaminant” sets of cultures drawn with the order. Contaminant blood cultures were defined as a contaminant species, present only once in the repeat cultures, and not present in initial positive cultures. Results 95 unique orders were placed with 406 sets of cultures drawn from 89 adults. ~20% of the time (17 orders) the order was placed without an initial positive blood culture. This led to 62 sets of cultures being drawn, only 1 of which came back positive. 78/95 orders had an initial positive blood culture. The most common initial organisms were Staphylococcus aureus (SA) (38), Candida sp (10), Enterobacterales sp (10), and coagulase negative staphylococci (7). 43/78 (55%) orders with an initial positive set had positive repeat cultures. SA (26) and Candida sp (8) were most common to have positive repeats. Central line associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) were found in 5 of the orders and contaminant species were found in 4 of the orders. 54% of the patients who had a “Daily” order placed did not have positive repeat cultures. The majority of the cultures were drawn from Surgical (40 orders) and Medical (35 orders) services. Assuming that SA and Candida sp require 48 hours of negative blood cultures to document clearance and other species require 24 hours, it was estimated that 51% of the cultures drawn using the "Daily" frequency were unnecessary. Cost savings over a year of removing the "Daily" frequency would be ~&14,000. Data from "Daily" blood culture orders drawn at Oregon Health & Science University from 12/6/2019-3/6/2020 Conclusion Unnecessary blood cultures are drawn when the frequency of blood cultures is changed to "Daily". Repeat blood cultures had the greatest utility in bloodstream infections due to SA or Candida sp, and with CLABSI where the line is still in place. These results led to a stewardship intervention to change blood culture ordering at our institution. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

scholarly journals Molecular epidemiology of catheter-related bloodstream infections caused by coagulase-negative staphylococci in haematological patients with neutropenia

2004 ◽  
Vol 132 (5) ◽  
pp. 921-925 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. MÜLLER-PREMRU ◽  
P. ČERNELČ
Keyword(s):  
Blood Culture ◽  
Staphylococcus Epidermidis ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Bloodstream Infections ◽  
Venous Catheter ◽  
Blood Cultures ◽  
Peripheral Vein ◽  
Central Venous ◽  
Coagulase Negative Staphylococci ◽  
Haematological Patients

Catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) caused by coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) is common in haematological patients with febrile neutropenia. As the clinical signs of CRBSI are usually scarce and it is difficult to differentiate from blood culture contamination, we tried to confirm CRBSI by molecular typing of CNS isolated from paired blood cultures (one from a peripheral vein and another from the central venous catheter hub). Blood cultures were positive in 59 (36%) out of 163 patients. CNS were isolated in 24 (40%) patients; in 14 from paired blood cultures (28 isolates) and in 10 from a single blood culture. CNS from paired blood cultures were identified as Staphylococcus epidermidis. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined and bacteria were typed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of bacterial genomic DNA. In 13 patients, the antibiotic susceptibility of isolates was identical. The PFGE patterns from paired blood cultures were identical or closely related in 10 patients, thus confirming the presence of CRBSI. In the remaining four patients they were unrelated, and suggested a mixed infection or contamination. Since CNS isolates from three patients had identical PFGE patterns, they were probably nosocomially spread amongst them.

scholarly journals “A Four-Leaf Clover” Sign for Rapid Identification of Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci by Gram Staining From Positive Blood Culture: A Cross-Sectional Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takahiro Matsuo ◽  
Kuniyoshi Hayashi ◽  
Aki Sakurai ◽  
Masumi Suzuki Shimizu ◽  
Masaya Morimoto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Regression Analysis ◽  
Blood Culture ◽  
Positive Predictive Value ◽  
Positive Blood Culture ◽  
Predictive Value ◽  
Blood Cultures ◽  
Coagulase Negative Staphylococci ◽  
Gram Staining ◽  
Sensitivity Specificity

Abstract Background: Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) are one of the most common contaminant microorganisms isolated from blood cultures. Few studies exploring the use of Gram staining to distinguish between Staphylococcus aureus (SA) and CoNS have been reported. Here, this study aimed to explore whether morphological features of Gram staining could identify SA or CoNS.Methods: This study was conducted at St. Luke’s International Hospital from November 2016 to September 2017. The positive blood cultures for which the Gram staining showed gram-positive cocci (GPC) in clusters were included in our study. The direct smear of Gram staining obtained from positive blood culture bottles were examined within 24 hours of positivity. We have identified and characterized the following two signs: “four-leaf clover (FLC)” if 4 GPC gathered like a planar four-leaf clover and “grapes” if the GPC gathered like grapes in a three-dimensional form. The number of fields with FLC and grapes signs in 10 fields per slide with ×1,000 power was counted, and the results in a total of 20 fields with ×1,000 power were combined. We performed a logistic regression analysis to assess whether these signs could serve as factors distinguishing between SA and CoNS. The predictive ability of these signs was evaluated based on the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for CoNS via receiver operating curve analysis.Results: In total, 106 blood cultures for which Gram staining showed GPC in clusters were examined; 46 (43%) were SA, and 60 (57%) were CoNS samples. The result of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the FLC sign was a statistically significant marker of CoNS with an odds ratio of 1.31 (95 % confidential interval (CI): 1.07–1.61, p<0.05). In aerobic bottles, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for CoNS were 0.67, 0.91, 0.92, and 0.65, respectively, and the value of area under the curve was 0.79 (95% CI: 0.67–0.91).Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first study to show that the FLC could be a rapid and useful indicator to identify CoNS in aerobic bottles. Thus, the presence of FLC sings could help clinicians to suspect the possibility of CoNS before the final identification by cultures.

scholarly journals Central Line–Associated Bloodstream Infections in Adult Hematology Patients with Febrile Neutropenia An Evaluation of Surveillance Definitions Using Differential Time to Blood Culture Positivity

2013 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua T. Freeman ◽  
Anna Elinder-Camburn ◽  
Catherine McClymont ◽  
Deverick J. Anderson ◽  
Mary Bilkey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Culture ◽  
Febrile Neutropenia ◽  
Positive Predictive Value ◽  
Bloodstream Infections ◽  
Central Line ◽  
Blood Cultures ◽  
National Healthcare ◽  
Culture Positivity ◽  
National Healthcare Safety Network ◽  
Blood Culture Positivity

We used differential time to positivity between central and peripheral blood cultures to evaluate the positive predictive value (PPV) of the National Healthcare Safety Network central line–associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) surveillance definition among hematology patients with febrile neutropenia. The PPV was 27.7%, which suggests that, when the definition is applied to this population, CLABSI rates will be substantially overestimated.

Obtaining Blood Cultures by Venipuncture versus from Central Lines Impact on Blood Culture Contamination Rates and Potential Effect on Central Line–Associated Bloodstream Infection Reporting

2013 ◽  
Vol 34 (10) ◽  
pp. 1042-1047 ◽  
Author(s):  
John M. Boyce ◽  
Jacqueline Nadeau ◽  
Diane Dumigan ◽  
Debra Miller ◽  
Cindy Dubowsky ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Culture ◽  
Bloodstream Infection ◽  
Hospital Costs ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Central Line ◽  
Potential Effect ◽  
Blood Cultures ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Central Lines ◽  
Contaminated Blood

Objective.Reduce the frequency of contaminated blood cultures that meet National Healthcare Safety Network definitions for a central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI).Design.An observational study.Setting.A 500-bed university-affiliated hospital.Methods.A new blood culture policy discouraged drawing blood samples from central lines. Phlebotomists were reeducated regarding aseptic technique when obtaining blood samples by venipuncture. The intravenous therapy team was taught how to draw blood samples by venipuncture and served as a backup when phlebotomists were unable to obtain blood samples. A 2-nurse protocol and a special supply kit for obtaining blood samples from catheters were developed. Rates of blood culture contamination were monitored by the microbiology laboratory.Results.The proportion of blood samples obtained for culture from central lines decreased from 10.9% during January–June 2010 to 0.4% during July–December 2012 (P< .001). The proportion of blood cultures that were contaminated decreased from 84 (1.6%) of 5,274 during January–June 2010 to 21 (0.5%) of 4,245 during January–June 2012 (P< .001). Based on estimated excess hospital costs of $3,000 per contaminated blood culture, the reduction in blood culture contaminants yielded an estimated annualized savings of $378,000 in 2012 when compared to 2010. In mid-2010, 3 (30%) of 10 reported CLABSIs were suspected to represent blood culture contamination compared with none of 6 CLABSIs reported from mid-November 2010 through June 2012 (P= 0.25).Conclusions.Multiple interventions resulted in a reduction in blood culture contamination rates and substantial cost savings to the hospital, and they may have reduced the number of reportable CLABSIs.

scholarly journals Five-year evaluation of the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of bacteria causing bloodstream infections in Iran

2011 ◽  
Vol 6 (02) ◽  
pp. 120-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Babak Pourakbari ◽  
Alireza Sadr ◽  
Mohammad Taghi Haghi Ashtiani ◽  
Setareh Mamishi ◽  
Mahdi Dehghani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Resistance ◽  
Blood Culture ◽  
Infection Control ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Pediatric Population ◽  
Bloodstream Infections ◽  
Blood Cultures ◽  
Coagulase Negative Staphylococci ◽  
Antimicrobial Drug Resistance ◽  
Oxacillin Resistance

Introduction: Bloodstream infections (BSI) are a serious cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Emerging antimicrobial drug resistance among bacterial pathogens causing BSI can limit therapeutic options and complicate patient management. Methodology: To encourage the prudent use of appropriate antibiotics in our pediatric population at Children's Medical Center Hospital, Tehran, Iran, we studied the frequency and antibiogram patterns of blood culture isolates from January 2001 to December 2005. Results: Of 25,223 blood cultures examined, 2,581 (10.23 %) were positive for bacterial growth. The frequency of Gram-positive bacteria isolated was 47.6% (1228 of 2581) and that for Gram-negatives was 52.4% (1353 of 2581). The rates of methicillin (oxacillin) resistance in Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) were 79% and 89%, respectively. About 45% of Streptococcus pneumoniae were resistant to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and approximately 66% to penicillin. Among the Gram-negative isolates, Pseudomonas aeruginosa was most frequently isolated, representing 943 (36.7%) over five years. This possibly represents an unrecognized hospital outbreak or contamination of blood culture bottles or other products such as skin disinfectants. Additionally, this pathogen showed extremely high rates of antimicrobial resistance. There were notable differences in frequency of the five most common microorganisms isolated from blood cultures, which can help set priorities for focused infection control efforts. Conclusions: Our findings underscore the need to monitor blood culture isolates and their antimicrobial resistance patterns to observe resistance trends that would influence appropriate empiric treatment and infection control strategies for bacteremic children.  

scholarly journals 298. Multicenter retrospective cohort study of the clinical significance of Staphylococcus lugdunensis isolated from a single blood culture set

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S147-S148
Author(s):  
Naomi Hauser ◽  
Justin Kim ◽  
Paul Luethy ◽  
Sarah Schmalzle ◽  
Jacqueline Bork
Keyword(s):  
Blood Culture ◽  
Clinical Significance ◽  
Positive Blood Culture ◽  
Positive Culture ◽  
Central Line ◽  
Blood Cultures ◽  
Adult Patients ◽  
Coagulase Negative Staphylococcus ◽  
Staphylococcus Lugdunensis ◽  
Clinical Criteria

Abstract Background Staphylococcus lugdunensis is a coagulase negative Staphylococcus (CoNS) species with the potential to cause aggressive infection. Guidance surrounding S. lugdunensis bacteremia (SLB) is lacking, especially in the case of a single positive set of blood cultures. Methods We performed a multicenter, retrospective observational cohort review of adult patients with SLB from at least one blood culture set within the University of Maryland Medical System from November 2015-November 2019. Objectives were to (1) describe baseline characteristics, (2) compare available criteria for evaluating clinical significance, and (3) evaluate the clinical outcomes among patients with SLB in 1 vs ≥2 positive blood culture sets. Descriptive statistics with Chi-squared and Mann-Whitney U tests were carried out. Results There were 5,548 CoNS-positive blood culture sets, 49 (0.88%) with S. lugdunensis comprising 36 adult patients (24 with 1 positive set and 12 with ≥2 positive sets). Patients with ≥2 positive sets were more likely to be on hemodialysis (HD) (p=0.029) and to have an HD catheter present (p=0.10) (Table 1). Thirty-five of the 36 patients fulfilled at least one of the following: systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), Souvenir criteria, or clinical criteria (infectious focus on imaging and/or second positive culture site) (Table 2). Twenty-eight (78%) patients were treated with antimicrobial therapy and/or central line removal. SIRS criteria were met more often among patients with 1 positive set (p=0.05). Patients with ≥2 positive sets were more often treated with antibiotics for longer than 2 weeks (p=0.02). The mean time of positive cultures to discharge was 11 days and was longer for patients with only one set of positive blood cultures (13 vs. 6 days), although this difference was not statistically significant (p=0.29) (Table 3). Conclusion SLB was rare and occurred more frequently as a single set of positive blood cultures. Though limited by sample size, this study found similar patient characteristics, clinical significance and outcomes between patients with one set and those with ≥2 sets of blood cultures positive for S. lugdunensis. Given the potential severity of SLB, it seems prudent to treat S. lugdunensis in a single blood culture, but larger studies are needed. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

scholarly journals Investigation of Antimicrobial Susceptibilities Among Bacteria Isolated from Blood Cultures in Hospitalized Patients, Tehran, Iran

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shadi Aghamohammad ◽  
Maryam Nouri ◽  
Fatemeh Ashrafian ◽  
Mohtaram Sadat Kashi ◽  
Mehrdad Gholami ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Culture ◽  
Positive Blood Culture ◽  
Antimicrobial Agents ◽  
Clinical Laboratory ◽  
Blood Cultures ◽  
Multi Drug Resistance ◽  
National Committee ◽  
Coagulase Negative Staphylococci ◽  
Gram Positive ◽  
Cross Sectional

Background: Bacteremia is the status, which is detected via a positive blood culture test with no contamination. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that direct medical procedures and total costs are significantly high. Antibiotic resistance can play a major role in the costs, which are related to the long duration of treatment. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the rate and profiles of antimicrobial susceptibility of blood culture isolates from Tehran, Iran. Methods: In the current cross-sectional study, a total of 5,000 blood culture samples were collected from patients hospitalized in the Loghman General Hospital, Tehran, Iran, with positive blood culture results from 2012 to 2013. Susceptibility to antimicrobial agents was analyzed using National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards guidelines. Results: Coagulase-negative staphylococci (38.8%), Staphylococcus aureus (20.5%), Acinetobacter (11.9%), and Escherichia coli (11.7%) were the most frequent bacteria isolated from the blood cultures, collectively accounting for > 80% of the isolates. Of isolated microorganisms, 63.75% and 36.24% belonged to Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, respectively. Moreover, 88% of the isolates were MRSA (oxacillin-/methicillin-resistant), and 7% were VRE (vancomycin-resistant). Conclusions: The most frequent isolated organisms were Gram-positive bacteria, and the rate of MDR (multi-drug resistance) was high. The results of the current study obviously indicate the misuse of antibiotic in society. National surveillance studies in Iran will be useful for clinicians to choose the right empirical treatment and will help control and prevent infections caused by resistant organisms.

Nosocomial Bacteremia Clinical Significance of a Single Blood Culture Positive for Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci

2005 ◽  
Vol 26 (8) ◽  
pp. 697-702 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benoît Favre ◽  
Stéphane Hugonnet ◽  
Luci Correa ◽  
Hugo Sax ◽  
Peter Rohner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Culture ◽  
Clinical Significance ◽  
Positive Blood Culture ◽  
Blood Cultures ◽  
University Teaching ◽  
Coagulase Negative Staphylococci ◽  
Nosocomial Bacteremia ◽  
Single Positive ◽  
Clinically Significant ◽  
Culture Positive

AbstractObjectives:To describe the epidemiology of nosocomial coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) bacteremia and to evaluate the clinical significance of a single blood culture positive for CoNS.Design:A 3-year retrospective cohort study based on data prospectively collected through hospital-wide surveillance. Bacteremia was defined according to CDC criteria, except that a single blood culture growing CoNS was not systematically considered as a contaminant. All clinically significant blood cultures positive for CoNS nosocomial bacteremia were considered for analysis.Setting:A large university teaching hospital in Geneva, Switzerland.Results:A total of 2,660 positive blood cultures were identified. Of these, 1,108 (41.7%) were nosocomial; CoNS were recovered from 411 nosocomial episodes (37.1%). Two hundred thirty-four episodes of CoNS bacteremia in the presence of signs of sepsis were considered clinically relevant and analyzed. Crude mortality and associated mortality were 24.4% and 12.8%, respectively. Associated mortality was similar among patients with one positive blood culture and those with two or more (16.2% vs 10.8%, respectively;P= .3). Mortality rates after bacteremia for patients with a single positive blood culture and for those with two or more were 15.3% and 7.0%, respectively, at day 14 (RR, 2.2; CI%, 0.87-5.46) and 20.8% and 11.3%, respectively, at day 28 (RR, 1.9; CI95, 0.9-3.8). On multivariate analysis, only age and a rapidly fatal disease were independently associated with death.Conclusion:CoNS bacteremia harbor a significant mortality and a single positive blood culture in the presence of signs of sepsis should be considered as clinically relevant.

scholarly journals 1169. Preventing Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections in Long-Term Acute Care

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. S418-S419
Author(s):  
Jerry Jacob ◽  
Ann Morace ◽  
Jisuk Park ◽  
Nina Renzi
Keyword(s):  
Blood Culture ◽  
Bloodstream Infections ◽  
Central Line ◽  
Culture Collection ◽  
Blood Cultures ◽  
Fiscal Year ◽  
Intervention Period ◽  
Central Lines ◽  
Clabsi Rate

Abstract Background Long-term acute care hospitals (LTACHs) care for chronically, critically ill patients with high utilization of central lines and high risk for morbidity from central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs). Our 38-bed LTACH noted a substantial increase in the incidence of CLABSIs (as defined by the National Healthcare Safety Network) between fiscal year (FY) 2016 and FY 2018 (Figure 1). Detailed case review identified a large number of CLABSIs which were clinically consistent with blood culture contaminants from central lines. Feedback from bedside staff also suggested gaps between practice and evidence-based measures for central line care. Methods A three-pronged CLABSI prevention project was implemented in July 2018 consisting of (1) staff education regarding daily chlorhexidine (CHG) bathing for all patients, combined with an electronic audit report to identify patients without active CHG orders; (2) change in practice to the use of venipuncture alone for blood culture collection, combined with an electronic audit report to identify blood cultures collected from central lines; and (3) a recurring 6-part educational series for nurses focused on central line care. The pre-intervention period was defined as the 12-month period between July 1, 2017 and June 30, 2018 (FY 2018). The primary outcome was the fiscal year CLABSI rate. A secondary outcome was the proportion of blood cultures drawn from central lines. Results After 9 months of the intervention, one CLABSI had been reported for FY 2019 year-to-date at a rate of 0.4 per 1,000 CL-days, representing an 86% decrease from the FY 2018 rate of 2.8 per 1,000 CL-days. The 12-month rolling CLABSI rate decreased to 1.6 per 1,000 CL-days (Figure 2). The proportion of blood cultures collected from central lines decreased from 10.5% (69/658) to 4.5% (15/334), representing a 57% reduction. The proportion of patients ordered and receiving CHG bathing in the intervention period was >95%. Conclusion A multidisciplinary effort focused on CHG bathing, central line care, and blood culture collection led to a substantial reduction in CLABSIs in our LTACH. The use of electronic audit reports was particularly useful in achieving high adherence to practice changes. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

scholarly journals Improving Positive Blood Culture Removal Time Significantly Decreases Total Processing Time

2014 ◽  
Vol 139 (2) ◽  
pp. 199-203 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Salazar ◽  
Mukul Divatia ◽  
Patricia L. Cernoch ◽  
Randall J. Olsen ◽  
S. Wesley Long ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Culture ◽  
Positive Blood Culture ◽  
Processing Time ◽  
Bloodstream Infections ◽  
Blood Cultures ◽  
Clinical Microbiology Laboratory ◽  
Total Processing Time ◽  
Pathogen Identification ◽  
Critical Function ◽  
Removal Time

Context Timely processing of blood cultures with positive results, including Gram staining and notification of clinicians, is a critical function of the clinical microbiology laboratory. Analysis of processing time in our laboratory revealed opportunities to enhance workflow efficiency. We found that the average time from positive blood culture result to removal of the bottle for processing (positive-to-removal [PR] time) was inadequate for our rapid pathogen identification program. Objective To determine whether increased vigilance about PR time and prioritization of laboratory resources would decrease PR time and total processing time. Design We performed a retrospective analysis of blood culture PR time 7 months before and 7 months after an in-service meeting during which the importance of PR time was emphasized, and corrective measures were implemented. Results Before the in-service meeting, the average PR time for 5057 samples was 38 minutes, with an aggregate time of 192 251 minutes. Unexpectedly, we discovered that only 51.8% (2617 of 5057) of the positive blood cultures were removed in less than 10 minutes. After the in-service meeting, for 5293 samples, the average PR time improved to 8 minutes, the aggregate time improved to 44 630 minutes, and 84.5% (4470 of 5293) of the positive blood cultures were removed in less than 10 minutes. These improvements reduced the time to telephone notification of the Gram stain results to a caregiver by 46.7% (from 105 minutes to 56 minutes). Conclusions Increased awareness of barriers to rapid pathogen identification and interventions for improving performance time significantly enhanced care of patients with bloodstream infections.

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