Reducing Blood Culture Contamination Rates: Experiences of Four Hospital Systems

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Blood cultures (BCs) frequently become contaminated during the pre-analytic phase of collection leading to downstream ramifications. We present a summary of performance improvement (PI) interventions provided by four hospital systems and common factors that contributed to decreased blood culture contamination (BCC) rates. Methods Each hospital independently formed a multidisciplinary team and action plan for implementation of their intervention, focusing on the use of educational and training tools. Their goal was to significantly decrease their BCC rates. Pre- and post-intervention data were compared during the sustainment period to determine their success. Results All hospitals met their goals of post-intervention BCC rates and with most achieving and sustaining BCC rates ≤ 1.0–2.0%. Conclusion Our report highlights how four hospitals independently achieved their objective to decrease their BCC rate with the support of a multidisciplinary team. We propose a benchmark for BCC rates of 1.5 to < 2.0% as achievable and sustainable.

Keywords

• BCC benchmark
• Blood culture contamination (BCC)
• Interventions
• Multidisciplinary team
• Performance improvements