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 Blood Culturing Practices at an Academic Medical Center

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. s142-s143
Author(s):  
Priya Sampathkumar ◽  
Kyle Rodino ◽  
Stacy (Tram) Ung
Keyword(s):  
Blood Culture ◽  
Care Center ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Central Line ◽  
Blood Cultures ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Contamination Rate ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Central Lines

Background: Blood cultures are part of the evaluation of hospital patients with fever. Patients with central lines in place, frequently have blood samples for culture drawn through lines. We sought to assess blood culturing practices at our institution. Methods: Retrospective review of BCs performed in hospitalized patients over a 12-month period (August 2018–July 2019) at an academic, tertiary-care center with 1,297 licensed beds and >62,000 admissions a year. A specialized phlebotomy team is involved in all peripherally drawn blood samples; however, the patient’s nurse obtains a blood sample through a central line. Results: Overall, 35,121 blood cultures were performed for an incidence rate of 106 BC per 1,000 patient days or 566 blood cultures per 1,000 admissions. Most blood samples (67%) were collected via peripheral venipuncture. We detected significant variation in culturing rates and the proportion of blood samples obtained through central lines among collecting units (Table 1). Overall, the blood culture contamination rate was 1.6%. Blood samples obtained through a central line had a higher contamination rate (2.2%) compared to samples obtained through peripheral venipuncture (1.3%; P < .0001). Blood culture rates were highest in intensive care units (ICUs) compared with other types of patient care units (Table 1). The blood culture positivity rate was significantly lower in ICUs (8.8%) compared with hematology-oncology (10%; HR, 0.88; CI, 0.80–0.96; P = .006), general medicine (10%; HR, 0.88; CI, 0.80–0.97; P = .013), and pediatrics (12%; HR, 0.74; CI, 0.59–0.92; P = .008). The ICUs had the lowest rate of BC contamination at 1.3%. Conclusions: Blood samples obtained through central lines for culture are more likely to be contaminated than peripherally drawn blood samples. Despite a relatively high rate of line-drawn blood samples for culture, ICUs had the lowest BC contamination rate, possibly reflecting high familiarity of ICU nurses with line draws. Blood samples collected through lines were most frequently performed in pediatrics and hematology-oncology, and these units had correspondingly higher rates of contamination. This information will be used to inform institutional guidelines on blood culturing and to identify ways to minimize blood culture contamination, which often results in additional testing and/or unnecessary antimicrobial use.Funding: NoneDisclosures: Consulting fee- Merck (Priya Sampathkumar)

Analysis of Central Line–Associated Bloodstream Infections in the Intensive Care Unit after Implementation of Central Line Bundles

2010 ◽  
Vol 31 (05) ◽  
pp. 551-553 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily K. Shuman ◽  
Laraine L. Washer ◽  
Jennifer L. Arndt ◽  
Christy A. Zalewski ◽  
Robert C. Hyzy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Intensive Care Units ◽  
Bloodstream Infections ◽  
Central Line ◽  
Line Bundles ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Central Lines ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Contaminated Blood

Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) have been reduced in number but not eliminated in our intensive care units with use of central line bundles. We performed an analysis of remaining CLABSIs. Many bloodstream infections that met the definition of CLABSI had sources other than central lines or represented contaminated blood samples.

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 2098. Reduction of Central-Line-associated Bloodstream Infection Rates: Impact of Minimizing Blood Cultures from Central Lines

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (suppl_1) ◽  
pp. S615-S615
Author(s):  
Nisreen Murad ◽  
Ana C Bardossy ◽  
Ryan Shelters ◽  
Eman Chami ◽  
Stephanie Schuldt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bloodstream Infection ◽  
Central Line ◽  
Blood Cultures ◽  
Infection Rates ◽  
Central Lines

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 Estimated Clinical and Economic Impact through Use of a Novel Blood Collection Device To Reduce Blood Culture Contamination in the Emergency Department: a Cost-Benefit Analysis

2018 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Erik Skoglund ◽  
Casey J. Dempsey ◽  
Hua Chen ◽  
Kevin W. Garey
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Blood Culture ◽  
Economic Impact ◽  
Hospital Costs ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Culture Collection ◽  
Blood Cultures ◽  
Hospital Length Of Stay ◽  
Decision Analysis Model

ABSTRACTBlood culture contamination results in increased hospital costs and exposure to antimicrobials. We evaluated the potential clinical and economic benefits of an initial specimen diversion device (ISDD) when routinely utilized for blood culture collection in the emergency department (ED) of a quaternary care medical center. A decision analysis model was created to identify the cost benefit of the use of the ISDD device in the ED. Probabilistic costs were determined from the published literature and the direct observation of pharmacy/microbiology staff. The primary outcome was the expected per-patient cost savings (microbiology, pharmacy, and indirect hospital costs) with the routine use of an ISDD from a hospital perspective. The indirect costs included those related to an increased hospital length of stay, additional procedures, adverse drug reactions, and hospital-acquired infections. Models were created to represent hospitals that routinely or do not routinely use rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) on positive blood cultures. The routine implementation of ISDD for blood culture collection in the ED was cost beneficial compared to conventional blood culture collection methods. When implemented in a hospital utilizing RDT with a baseline contamination rate of 6%, ISDD use was associated with a cost savings of $272 (3%) per blood culture in terms of overall hospital costs and $28 (5.4%) in direct-only costs. The main drivers of cost were baseline contamination rates and the duration of antibiotics given to patients with negative blood cultures. These findings support the routine use of ISDD during blood culture collection in the ED as a cost-beneficial strategy to reduce the clinical and economic impact of blood culture contamination in terms of microbiology, pharmacy, and wider indirect hospital impacts.

scholarly journals 182. Clinical Presentation of Patients with Staphylococcus lugdunensis Positive Blood Cultures After the Implementation of Rapid Molecular Blood Culture Diagnostics

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S199-S200
Author(s):  
Kristin Constance ◽  
Alauna Hunt ◽  
Sam Karimaghaei ◽  
Nigo Masayuki
Keyword(s):  
Blood Culture ◽  
Bloodstream Infection ◽  
Positive Blood Culture ◽  
Central Line ◽  
Blood Cultures ◽  
Coagulase Negative Staphylococcus ◽  
Medical Systems ◽  
Hospital System ◽  
Severe Infections ◽  
Acid Test

Abstract Background Since the implementation of improved laboratory techniques, coagulase negative Staphylococcus (CoNS) have been routinely speciated to screen for S. lugdunensis (SL), which has led to increased identification. The objective of this study is to describe the characteristics of patients with SL positive blood cultures after the introduction of Verigene® Gram-Positive Blood Culture Nucleic Acid Test (BC-GP) in two large medical systems. Methods Retrospective review of all blood culture isolates positive for SL from Memorial Hermann Hospital System (14 hospitals) and HarrisHealth System (two acute care hospitals) since implementation of BC-GP. Results Between 2017 – 2021, 157 patients had SL positive blood cultures. 18 were eliminated as cultures were positive for bacteria other than CoNS, and 7 eliminated as patients were discharged prior to culture results. Of the remaining 132 patients, 39 (29.5%) were labelled contaminants by the treating physician and 93 were considered true bacteremia. Patients with hardware/implanted materials were more likely considered to have true bacteremia, while patients with other CoNS species in blood cultures were more likely considered contaminants. Only one death was attributed to SL bloodstream infection in the true bacteremia group. None of the deaths in the contaminated group were attributed to SL infection. Of the 93 patients labelled true bacteremia, the source was most frequently listed as central line associated bloodstream infection (17.2%), followed by skin/soft tissue infection (11.8%), and infective endocarditis (IE) (10.8%). Table 1. Characteristics of Patients with S. lugdunensis Positive Blood Cultures Conclusion In our study, 29% of patients with positive blood culture for SL were deemed contaminants. Patients without hardwares or positive concomitant other CoNS species from the same blood culture were often considered as contaminated cases. The incidence of IE remains as high as 10.8% in those patients identified to have true bacteremia (7.6% overall in our cohort), although lower than previously reported cases. Careful evaluation is warranted in patients with positive SL blood culture to rule out severe infections and avoid unnecessary courses of antibiotic therapy. This study suggests that increased identification of SL may impact our understanding of its significance and pathogenicity over time. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

Risk factors and clinical outcomes associated with blood culture contamination

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Justin M. Klucher ◽  
Kevin Davis ◽  
Mrinmayee Lakkad ◽  
Jacob T. Painter ◽  
Ryan K. Dare
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Blood Culture ◽  
Hospital Mortality ◽  
Clinical Outcomes ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Blood Cultures ◽  
Hospital Charges ◽  
Patient Specific ◽  
Contaminated Blood

Abstract Objective: To determine patient-specific risk factors and clinical outcomes associated with contaminated blood cultures. Design: A single-center, retrospective case-control risk factor and clinical outcome analysis performed on inpatients with blood cultures collected in the emergency department, 2014–2018. Patients with contaminated blood cultures (cases) were compared to patients with negative blood cultures (controls). Setting: A 509-bed tertiary-care university hospital. Methods: Risk factors independently associated with blood-culture contamination were determined using multivariable logistic regression. The impacts of contamination on clinical outcomes were assessed using linear regression, logistic regression, and generalized linear model with γ log link. Results: Of 13,782 blood cultures, 1,504 (10.9%) true positives were excluded, leaving 1,012 (7.3%) cases and 11,266 (81.7%) controls. The following factors were independently associated with blood-culture contamination: increasing age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.01; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01–1.01), black race (aOR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.15–1.51), increased body mass index (BMI; aOR, 1.01; 95% CI, 1.00–1.02), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (aOR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.02–1.33), paralysis (aOR 1.64; 95% CI, 1.26–2.14) and sepsis plus shock (aOR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.07–1.49). After controlling for age, race, BMI, and sepsis, blood-culture contamination increased length of stay (LOS; β = 1.24 ± 0.24; P < .0001), length of antibiotic treatment (LOT; β = 1.01 ± 0.20; P < .001), hospital charges (β = 0.22 ± 0.03; P < .0001), acute kidney injury (AKI; aOR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.40–1.83), echocardiogram orders (aOR, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.30–1.75) and in-hospital mortality (aOR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.31–2.16). Conclusions: These unique risk factors identify high-risk individuals for blood-culture contamination. After controlling for confounders, contamination significantly increased LOS, LOT, hospital charges, AKI, echocardiograms, and in-hospital mortality.

Types of Interventions

2021 ◽  
pp. 40-51
Author(s):  
Jennifer Meddings ◽  
Vineet Chopra ◽  
Sanjay Saint
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Bloodstream Infection ◽  
Infection Prevention ◽  
Central Line ◽  
Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
Central Lines ◽  
The Past ◽  
Central Catheters

Prevention of central line–associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI), while initially making great strides in 2003, has declined as use of peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) has grown tremendously over the past two decades. The convenience of a PICC has led to sicker patients being treated outside the intensive care unit, and there has been little recognition of a trade-off between benefits and risks after PICC placement. For these reasons, CLABSI prevention has become more challenging. This chapter describes the contents of an infection prevention bundle for CLABSI. In the case of CLABSI, the intervention outlines appropriate and inappropriate uses of central lines. Several new tools are discussed, which help doctors and nurses think through which device is most appropriate for any given patient.

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