JUSTIFICATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A POLICY REQUIRING 2 BLOOD CULTURES WHEN ONE IS ORDERED

In many health care settings, practitioners frequently order a single blood culture from Patients in whom bacteremia or fungemia is suspecte d. Numerous studies, however, have concluded that two or three culture s from both pediatric and adult patients are clinically advisable to i ncrease detection of pathogens, provide the shortest possible detectio n time, help to differentiate pathogens from contaminants, and provide guidance for selection of the most appropriate therapy. The blood vol ume that can safely be collected from patients for culture is directly related to body weight. Specific recommendations are made for the num ber, timing, and blood volumes for cultures collected from pediatric a s well as adult patients. Steps are outlined to successfully establish a policy mandating at least two blood cultures from symptomatic patie nts of any weight or age.