Adequate or Inadequate? The Volume of Blood Submitted for Blood Culture at a Tertiary Children’s Hospital

2018 ◽  
Vol 57 (11) ◽  
pp. 1310-1317 ◽  
Author(s):  
Freya C. Harewood ◽  
Nigel Curtis ◽  
Andrew J. Daley ◽  
Penelope A. Bryant ◽  
Amanda Gwee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Culture ◽  
Antibiotic Therapy ◽  
Blood Volume ◽  
Educational Intervention ◽  
Blood Cultures ◽  
Culture Result ◽  
Children's Hospital ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Low Volume ◽  
The Impact

The volume of blood sampled for culture critically influences the results. This study aimed to determine (1) the volume of blood submitted for culture, (2) the proportion of blood cultures with adequate volume, (3) whether measured improvement from a previous educational intervention had been sustained, and (4) the impact of blood volume on culture result. The volume of blood submitted for cultures was determined over a 13-month period by weighing bottles before and after collection and before and after an educational intervention. The volume of blood submitted in 5127 culture bottles were measured. Fewer than 50% of all cultures were deemed adequate. A significant pathogen was isolated in 4.7% of blood cultures, and low-volume cultures were more likely to yield contaminant isolates (47/2422 [1.9%] vs 22/2705 [0.8%], P = .0005). Subsequently, the higher rate of contaminant isolates from low-volume cultures may affect selection and rationalization of antibiotic therapy.

scholarly journals 265. Blood culture results pre- and post- antimicrobial administration in the Medicine Intensive Care Unit: a retrospective study in South Bronx

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S131-S132
Author(s):  
Chia-Yu Chiu ◽  
Amara Sarwal ◽  
Addi Feinstein
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Blood Culture ◽  
Blood Cultures ◽  
Antibiotic Administration ◽  
Culture Result ◽  
Blood Culture Result ◽  
South Bronx ◽  
Coagulase Negative Staphylococci ◽  
Before And After

Abstract Background It is intuitive that obtaining blood cultures prior to administering antibiotics can increase the likelihood of a positive blood culture result. Surviving Sepsis Campaign Hour-1 bundle stipulates that obtaining a blood culture and administering antibiotics within 1 hour is a critical determinant of survival. However, the diagnostic sensitivity shortly after antibiotic administration remains unknown. In clinical practice, some health care providers delay antibiotic administration in order to first obtain a blood culture. Methods Adult patients (> 18 years of age) admitted to the Medicine Intensive Care Unit in Lincoln Medical Center, located in South Bronx, New York City, from 09/2019 to 12/2019. Patients needed to have at least one blood culture obtained within 12 hours of admission and have received intravenous antibiotics during the admission to the Medicine Intensive Care Unit. Results Of 327 patients screened, 196 met enrolment criteria and 253 sets of blood cultures underwent analysis. Blood cultures grew bacteria in 21.8% of pre-antimicrobial group whereas 26.9% in post-antimicrobial group (p=0.37). 25.9% of patients received antibiotics within 1 hour before blood culture sampling, while 34.0% of patients received antibiotics >1 hour prior to obtaining blood culture. Blood culture results positive for coagulase-negative staphylococci were more prevalent in the pre-antimicrobial group. Table 1. Patient Characteristics Table 2. Number of blood cultures obtained and blood culture result Table 3. Initial antimicrobial agent and 30-day mortality Conclusion In the sequence of blood culture and antibiotic administration, there is no 30-day survival difference in pre-antimicrobial group and post-antimicrobial group (p=0.15), as long as both received antibiotics within 12 hours of coming to the hospital. Coagulase-negative staphylococci were higher in the pre-antimicrobial group which may indicate that the health care provider hastily obtained the blood culture in a non-sterile manner. Antibiotic administration should not be delayed because of pending blood culture collection. In addition, given that more than 70% of patients were ultimately found to have negative blood cultures, it would be useful to develop practical tools to identify low-risk patients that can be treated without obtaining blood culture, as the blood culture would not be likely to provide diagnostic information. Figure 1: Hours Before and After IV Antibiotic Started Figure 2: Distribution of Blood Culture Before and After IV Antibiotics Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

scholarly journals A Sterile Collection Bundle Intervention Reduces the Recovery of Bacteria from Neonatal Blood Culture

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linze F. Hamilton ◽  
Helen E. Gillett ◽  
Adam Smith-Collins ◽  
Jonathan W. Davis
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care ◽  
Blood Culture ◽  
False Positive ◽  
Neonatal Intensive Care ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Group Versus ◽  
Antibiotic Use ◽  
Culture Collection ◽  
Blood Cultures ◽  
Before And After

Background: In neonatal intensive care, coagulase-negative Staphylococcus species can be both blood culture contaminants and pathogens. False-positive cultures can result in clinical uncertainty and unnecessary antibiotic use. Objective: This study sought to assess whether a sterile blood culture collection bundle would reduce the incidence of false-positive blood cultures in a regional neonatal intensive care unit. Method: Clinical data was collected from all infants who had blood cultures taken before and after the introduction of the sterile blood culture collection bundle intervention. This intervention required 2% chlorhexidine and full sterile precautions for blood culture collection. False-positive blood culture rates (presence of skin commensals and ≥3 clinical infection signs) were compared before and after the intervention. The number of days of unnecessary antibiotics associated with false-positive blood cultures was also analysed. Results: In the pre-intervention group (PRE) 197 cultures were taken from 161 babies. In the post-intervention group (POST) 170 cultures from 133 babies were acquired. Baseline demographics were similar in both groups. The rate of false-positive cultures in the PRE group versus the POST group was 9/197 (4.6%) compared to 1/170 (0.6%) (p < 0.05). Unnecessary antibiotic exposure was reduced in the PRE group in comparison to the POST group (27 vs. 0 days, p < 0.01). Conclusions: Implementation of sterile blood culture collection intervention reduced the number of false-positive results. This has potential benefit in reducing unnecessary antibiotic use.

Reducing the Contamination Rate and the Unnecessary Requesting of Blood Culture Test through Quality Improvement Project

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-91
Author(s):  
Tamer Mohamed ◽  
Ashraf A Askar ◽  
Jamila Chahed
Keyword(s):  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Blood Culture ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Blood Cultures ◽  
Quality Improvement Project ◽  
Contamination Rate ◽  
Improvement Project ◽  
Culture Test ◽  
Negative Results ◽  
Before And After

Background: Blood stream infections are major leading causes of morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. Increasing the awareness of the clinicians and nurses about the proper protocol of blood culture test is very important in reducing the contamination rate and the unnecessary requesting of blood culture. Objectives: to reduce the contamination rate and the unnecessary requesting of blood culture from different departments through implementation of hospital wide Quality Improvement Project (QIP). Methodology: Blood cultures were tested in the Microbiology Laboratory of Najran Armed Forces hospital, Saudi Arabia, in the period from June 2019 to July 2020 and their results were compared before and after the implementation of the QIP. Results: The comparison between the blood cultures results before and after QIP implementation showed statistically significant (19.6%) reduction in the contamination rate, (14%) reduction in the total number of blood culture requests and (11.6%) reduction in the negative results rate. Conclusion: The reduction in the total number, negative results and contamination rate of blood culture test after QIP implementation were considered as performance indicators that the recommendations of QIP were effective and implemented strictly.

PRESCRIBING AND MONITORING OF GENTAMICIN IN NEONATES

2016 ◽  
Vol 101 (9) ◽  
pp. e2.65-e2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola Staton
Keyword(s):  
Blood Culture ◽  
Neonatal Intensive Care ◽  
Drug Level ◽  
Neonatal Infection ◽  
Blood Cultures ◽  
Therapeutic Drug ◽  
Before And After ◽  
National Patient ◽  
Trough Levels ◽  
Selection Of

AimTo evaluate the implementation of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) clinical guideline1 with regards to the prescribing, exposure and therapeutic drug level monitoring of gentamicin in early onset neonatal infection.MethodA selection of drug charts for babies who were prescribed gentamicin within 72 hrs of birth were reviewed. The number of doses of gentamicin administered, C-reactive protein (CRP) results, blood culture results and gentamicin trough levels were recorded. A new gentamicin prescription chart was developed based on the NICE clinical guideline1 and the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) alert2 on the safer use of gentamicin for neonates, and was launched on the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). A number of months after the new gentamicin prescription chart was introduced, and had therefore had time to become embedded into practice, a selection of babies' drug charts were reviewed and the same information as previously was documented. The information obtained before and after the introduction of the new gentamicin prescription chart was compared.ResultsPrior to the new gentamicin prescription chart 16 prescriptions for gentamicin were reviewed, and in total 47 doses of gentamicin were administered. Blood cultures were negative after five days in all 16 patients. In total 9 gentamicin trough levels were taken with only one level being >2 mg/L. Following the introduction of the new prescription chart another 16 prescriptions for gentamicin were reviewed, and in total 38 doses of gentamicin were administered. Again blood cultures were negative after five days in all 16 patients. In total 14 gentamicin trough levels were taken with two levels being >2 mg/L. Prior to the new gentamicin prescription chart 50% of babies received more than one dose of gentamicin despite having two CRP results <10. This is compared to 31% of babies following the introduction of the new gentamicin prescription chart.ConclusionIt can be concluded that the new gentamicin prescription chart has resulted in a reduction in the exposure of babies to gentamicin, as all babies now have it administered at 36 hourly intervals. There has also been an increase in blood monitoring of trough gentamicin levels, as they are now taken prior to the second dose rather than the third dose. Therefore the new gentamicin prescription chart is safer as toxic levels are identified sooner, which reduces the risk of babies suffering adverse effects.Since the introduction of the new gentamicin prescription chart 31% of babies received more than the necessary number of gentamicin doses, as dictated by the CRP results and blood culture result at 36 hrs. This is a learning point which will be highlighted to the medical and nursing staff on NICU.

The Impact of Blood Cultures on Antibiotic Therapy in Pneumococcal Pneumonia

CHEST Journal ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 116 (5) ◽  
pp. 1278-1281 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grant W. Waterer ◽  
S. Gregory Jennings ◽  
Richard G. Wunderink
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Therapy ◽  
Pneumococcal Pneumonia ◽  
Blood Cultures ◽  
The Impact

scholarly journals A Diagnostic Stewardship Intervention To Improve Blood Culture Use among Adult Nonneutropenic Inpatients: the DISTRIBUTE Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 58 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Valeria Fabre ◽  
Eili Klein ◽  
Alejandra B. Salinas ◽  
George Jones ◽  
Karen C. Carroll ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Blood Culture ◽  
Surgical Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Surgical Intensive Care ◽  
Control Units ◽  
Stewardship Program ◽  
Academic Center ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACT Interventions to optimize blood culture (BCx) practices in adult inpatients are limited. We conducted a before-after study evaluating the impact of a diagnostic stewardship program that aimed to optimize BCx use in a medical intensive care unit (MICU) and five medicine units at a large academic center. The program included implementation of an evidence-based algorithm detailing indications for BCx use and education and feedback to providers about BCx rates and indication inappropriateness. Neutropenic patients were excluded. BCx rates from contemporary control units were obtained for comparison. The primary outcome was the change in BCxs ordered with the intervention. Secondary outcomes included proportion of inappropriate BCx, solitary BCx, and positive BCx. Balancing metrics included compliance with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) SEP-1 BCx component, 30-day readmission, and all-cause in-hospital and 30-day mortality. After the intervention, BCx rates decreased from 27.7 to 22.8 BCx/100 patient-days (PDs) in the MICU (P = 0.001) and from 10.9 to 7.7 BCx/100 PD for the 5 medicine units combined (P < 0.001). BCx rates in the control units did not decrease significantly (surgical intensive care unit [ICU], P = 0.06; surgical units, P = 0.15). The proportion of inappropriate BCxs did not significantly change with the intervention (30% in the MICU and 50% in medicine units). BCx positivity increased in the MICU (from 8% to 11%, P < 0.001). Solitary BCxs decreased by 21% in the medicine units (P < 0.001). Balancing metrics were similar before and after the intervention. BCx use can be optimized with clinician education and practice guidance without affecting sepsis quality metrics or mortality.

METHOD FOR OBTAINING BLOOD CULTURE WHILE DIAGNOSING BLOODSTREAM INFECTION

2020 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 185-190
Author(s):  
N. M. Kargaltseva ◽  
V. I. Kocherovets ◽  
A. Yu. Mironov ◽  
O. Yu. Borisova
Keyword(s):  
Blood Culture ◽  
Blood Sample ◽  
Bloodstream Infection ◽  
Blood Volume ◽  
Venous Blood ◽  
Buffy Coat ◽  
Blood Cultures ◽  
Genetic Identification ◽  
Blood Collection ◽  
Urogenital System

Diagnosing of bloodstream infection (BSI) in outpatients is essential. A large blood volume is required to obtain blood culture (CLSI): 2 sets, 40ml of blood for diagnosing in 95% cases of bacteremia. Molecular-genetic methods can not replace blood culture method, but they accelerate the identification of any pathogen. Culturomics gives a combination of different conditions for isolating microorganisms from a sample and along with their genetic identification. We used the patent method for direct inoculation of buffy-coat from 4,5ml of a venous blood sample and MALDI-ToF identification method. In 382 outpatients examined there were received 183 blood cultures (48,0%), more often among women (65,6%) and young people (74,9%). The causative agents of community-acquired bloodstream infection were aerobes (73,4%), anaerobes (24,2%), fungi (2,4%). The gram-positive cocci were prevailing (51,4%) and the gram-negative rods were isolated rather seldom (9,6%). BSI was monomicrobial (66,5%) and polymicrobial (33,5%). Polymicrobial blood cultures had 2, 3, 4 agents in one blood sample (75,4%, 18,8%, 5,8%, respectively). There were also found combinations of different species of aerobes (47,8%), aerobes with anaerobes (42%). BSI caused complications of the primary disease of the respiratory system, urogenital system and in 100% of cases after plastic surgery. A small blood volume is required for buffy-coat inoculation, the direct agar culture reduces the response time to 2 days, so it makes genetic identification possible on the 2nd day from the moment of blood collection.

scholarly journals The Effect of Educational Intervention on Nurses’ Attitudes and Beliefs about Depression in Heart Failure Patients

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia Lea
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Educational Intervention ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Heart Failure Patients ◽  
Surgical Units ◽  
Treatment Of Depression ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Consistent Assessment ◽  
Effective Diagnosis ◽  
The Impact

Systematic depression screening is feasible, efficient, and well accepted; however the lack of consistent assessment in heart failure inpatients suggests barriers preventing its effective diagnosis and treatment. This pilot study assessed the impact of an educational intervention on nurses’ beliefs about depression and their likelihood of routinely screening heart failure patients. Registered nurses(n=35)from adult medical-surgical units were surveyed before and after an educational intervention to assess their beliefs about depression prevalence and screening in heart failure patients. There was no significant influence on nurses’ beliefs about depression, but the results suggested an increased likelihood that nurses would routinely screen for depression. The moderately significant correlation between beliefs and intent to screen for depression indicates that educational intervention could ultimately have a positive influence on patient outcomes through early detection and treatment of depression in patients with cardiovascular disease; however the observed increase in the intent to screen without a corresponding change in beliefs indicates other influences affecting nurses’ intent to screen heart failure patients for depression.

scholarly journals Evaluation of an Initial Specimen Diversion Device (ISDD) on Rates of Blood Culture Contamination in the Emergency Department

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 73-76
Author(s):  
Blake Buzard ◽  
Patrick Evans ◽  
Todd Schroeder
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Length Of Stay ◽  
Blood Culture ◽  
Blood Cultures ◽  
Contamination Rate ◽  
Total Hospital Cost ◽  
Initial Specimen ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Secondary Outcomes ◽  
The Impact

Introduction: Blood cultures are the gold standard for identifying bloodstream infections. The Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute recommends a blood culture contamination rate of <3%. Contamination can lead to misdiagnosis, increased length of stay and hospital costs, unnecessary testing and antibiotic use. These reasons led to the development of initial specimen diversion devices (ISDD). The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of an initial specimen diversion device on rates of blood culture contamination in the emergency department.  Methods: This was a retrospective, multi-site study including patients who had blood cultures drawn in an emergency department. February 2018 to April 2018, when an ISDD was not utilized, was compared with June 2019 to August 2019, a period where an ISDD was being used. The primary outcome was total blood culture contamination. Secondary outcomes were total hospital cost, hospital and intensive care unit length of stay, vancomycin days of use, vancomycin serum concentrations obtained, and repeat blood cultures obtained.  Results: A statistically significant difference was found in blood culture contamination rates in the Pre-ISDD group vs the ISDD group (7.47% vs 2.59%, p<0.001). None of the secondary endpoints showed a statistically significant difference. Conclusions: Implementation of an ISDD reduces blood culture contamination in a statistically significant manner. However, we were unable to capture any statistically significant differences in the secondary outcomes.

scholarly journals 82. Assessment of Clinical Outcomes and Antibiotic Prescribing Patterns Following Implementation of the GenMark ePlex® Blood Culture Identification Panel for Gram-positive Bloodstream Infections

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S157-S157
Author(s):  
Megan Wein ◽  
Shawn Binkley ◽  
Vasilios Athans ◽  
Stephen Saw ◽  
Tiffany Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Culture ◽  
Antibiotic Therapy ◽  
Clinical Outcomes ◽  
Prescribing Patterns ◽  
Antibiotic Prescribing ◽  
Gram Stain ◽  
Gram Positive ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Culture Identification ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Rapid diagnostic testing (RDT) of bloodstream pathogens provides key information sooner than conventional identification and susceptibility testing. The GenMark ePlex® blood culture identification gram-positive (BCID-GP) panel is a molecular-based multiplex platform, with 20 Gram-positive target pathogens and 4 bacterial resistance genes that can be detected within 1.5 hours of blood culture positivity. Published studies have evaluated the accuracy of the ePlex® BCID-GP panel compared to traditional identification methods; however, studies evaluating the impact of this panel on clinical outcomes and prescribing patterns are lacking. Methods This multi-center, quasi-experimental study evaluated clinical outcomes and prescribing patterns before (December 2018 – June 2019) and after (August 2019 – January 2020) implementation of the ePlex® BCID-GP panel in June 2019. Hospitalized, adult patients with growth of Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium, or Staphylococcus aureus from blood cultures were included. The primary endpoint was time to targeted antibiotic therapy, defined as time from positive Gram-stain to antibiotic adjustment for the infecting pathogen. Results A total of 200 patients, 100 in each group, were included. Time to targeted therapy was 47.9 hours in the pre-group versus 24.8 hours in the post-group (p&lt; 0.0001). Time from Gram-stain to organism identification was 23.03 hours (pre) versus 2.56 hours (post), p&lt; 0.0001. There was no statistically significant difference in time from Gram-stain to susceptibility results, hospital length of stay (LOS), or all-cause 30-day mortality. Conclusion Implementation of the GenMark ePlex® BCID-GP panel reduced time to targeted antibiotic therapy by nearly 24 hours. Clinical outcomes including hospital LOS and all-cause 30-day mortality did not show a statistical difference, although analysis of a larger sample size is necessary to appropriately assess these outcomes. This study represents the effect of RDT implementation alone, in the absence of stewardship intervention, on antibiotic prescribing patterns. These findings will inform the design of a dedicated RDT antimicrobial stewardship intervention at our institution, while also being generalizable to other institutions with RDT capabilities. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

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