DOING IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME - QUALITY IMPROVEMENT AND THE CONTAMINANT BLOOD CULTURE

The aim of the project was to determine whether the rate of contaminan t blood cultures could be reduced by using a team of dedicated phlebot omists. Comparisons were made between adult patients requiring blood c ultures for suspected bacteremia on medical and surgical units before and after the introduction and withdrawal of a dedicated blood culture team. The results showed that a significant reduction in the contamin ant blood culture rate was achieved by the blood culture team (P < 0.0 01; chi(2) test). Therefore, in our experience, the rate of contaminan t blood cultures can be reduced in a teaching hospital by using a team of dedicated phlebotomists. Calculations made with our data and those published by others suggest that cost savings from reducing false-pos itive blood cultures are greater than the cost of the blood culture te am.