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. 2015 Jul;143(9):1964-71.
doi: 10.1017/S0950268814003008. Epub 2014 Nov 12.

Tackling the problem of blood culture contamination in the intensive care unit using an educational intervention

Y M Alahmadi  1 , J C McElnay  1 , M P Kearney  2 , M A Aldeyab  1 , F A Magee  3 , J Hanley  4 , R Bailie  4 , W Donaldson  4 , K Johnston  4 , S Kinoulty  4 , A Doherty  4 , A Tate  5 , M G Scott  3
Affiliations

Tackling the problem of blood culture contamination in the intensive care unit using an educational intervention

Y M Alahmadi et al. Epidemiol Infect. 2015 Jul.

Abstract

Blood culture contamination (BCC) has been associated with unnecessary antibiotic use, additional laboratory tests and increased length of hospital stay thus incurring significant extra hospital costs. We set out to assess the impact of a staff educational intervention programme on decreasing intensive care unit (ICU) BCC rates to <3% (American Society for Microbiology standard). BCC rates during the pre-intervention period (January 2006-May 2011) were compared with the intervention period (June 2011-December 2012) using run chart and regression analysis. Monthly ICU BCC rates during the intervention period were reduced to a mean of 3.7%, compared to 9.5% during the baseline period (P < 0.001) with an estimated potential annual cost savings of about £250,100. The approach used was simple in design, flexible in delivery and efficient in outcomes, and may encourage its translation into clinical practice in different healthcare settings.

Keywords: Adequate clinical practice; blood culture; educational intervention; false positives.

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Conflict of interest statement

Iskus Health Ltd partly contributed to the development of the DVD which was used as part of the overall educational intervention.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Study design. Impact of intervention on blood culture contamination (BCC) rate and completion of blood culture (BC) request forms timeline.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Run chart of monthly blood culture contamination (BCC) rates over the whole study period (ICU; January 2006–December 2012), completion of blood culture request forms during pre- and educational intervention period (September 2010 to May 2011 and June 2011 to March 2012).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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