Reducing contamination of peripheral blood cultures in a pediatric emergency department

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Murillo TA, Beavers-May TK, English D, Plummer V, Stovall SH.
Pediatr Emerg Care. 2011 Oct;27(10):918-21.
Arkansas Children’s Hospital, Little Rock, AR

  • Determined the ED Contamination rate and evaluate an educational intervention.
  • Positivity rate during the pre-study phase was 6.8%; 114 were contaminants and 40 were pathogens. Positivity rate during the intervention phase was 6.3%; 124 were contaminants and 33 were pathogens.
  • Contamination rates of individual practitioners ranged from 0% to 17% (PRE) and from 0% to 21% (POST).
  • The rate in the ED for peripherally drawn blood cultures is approximately 5% monthly. For each culture positive for organism, the chance of contamination is 75% or higher.

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