Tackling the problem of blood culture contamination in the intensive care unit using an educational intervention

Y. M. Alahmadi; J. C. McElnay; M. P. Kearney; M. A. Aldeyab; F. A. Magee; J. Hanley; R. Bailie; W. Donaldson; K. Johnston; S. Kinoulty; A. Doherty; A. Tate; M. G. Scott

doi:10.1017/S0950268814003008

Tackling the problem of blood culture contamination in the intensive care unit using an educational intervention

Y. M. Alahmadi, J. C. McElnay, M. P. Kearney, M. A. Aldeyab, F. A. Magee, J. Hanley, R. Bailie, W. Donaldson, K. Johnston, S. Kinoulty, A. Doherty, A. Tate, M. G. Scott

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21 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Blood culture contamination (BCC) has been associated with unnecessary antibiotic use, additional laboratory tests and increased length of hospital stay thus incurring significant extra hospital costs. We set out to assess the impact of a staff educational intervention programme on decreasing intensive care unit (ICU) BCC rates to <3% (American Society for Microbiology standard). BCC rates during the pre-intervention period (January 2006-May 2011) were compared with the intervention period (June 2011-December 2012) using run chart and regression analysis. Monthly ICU BCC rates during the intervention period were reduced to a mean of 3·7%, compared to 9·5% during the baseline period (P < 0·001) with an estimated potential annual cost savings of about £250 100. The approach used was simple in design, flexible in delivery and efficient in outcomes, and may encourage its translation into clinical practice in different healthcare settings.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1964-1971
Number of pages	8
Journal	Epidemiology and Infection
Volume	143
Issue number	9
Early online date	12 Nov 2014
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1017/S0950268814003008
Publication status	Published - Jul 2015
Externally published	Yes

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Alahmadi, Y. M., McElnay, J. C., Kearney, M. P., Aldeyab, M. A., Magee, F. A., Hanley, J., Bailie, R., Donaldson, W., Johnston, K., Kinoulty, S., Doherty, A., Tate, A., & Scott, M. G. (2015). Tackling the problem of blood culture contamination in the intensive care unit using an educational intervention. Epidemiology and Infection, 143(9), 1964-1971. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0950268814003008

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abstract = "Blood culture contamination (BCC) has been associated with unnecessary antibiotic use, additional laboratory tests and increased length of hospital stay thus incurring significant extra hospital costs. We set out to assess the impact of a staff educational intervention programme on decreasing intensive care unit (ICU) BCC rates to <3% (American Society for Microbiology standard). BCC rates during the pre-intervention period (January 2006-May 2011) were compared with the intervention period (June 2011-December 2012) using run chart and regression analysis. Monthly ICU BCC rates during the intervention period were reduced to a mean of 3·7%, compared to 9·5% during the baseline period (P < 0·001) with an estimated potential annual cost savings of about £250 100. The approach used was simple in design, flexible in delivery and efficient in outcomes, and may encourage its translation into clinical practice in different healthcare settings.",

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Alahmadi, YM, McElnay, JC, Kearney, MP, Aldeyab, MA, Magee, FA, Hanley, J, Bailie, R, Donaldson, W, Johnston, K, Kinoulty, S, Doherty, A, Tate, A & Scott, MG 2015, 'Tackling the problem of blood culture contamination in the intensive care unit using an educational intervention', Epidemiology and Infection, vol. 143, no. 9, pp. 1964-1971. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0950268814003008

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AU - Aldeyab, M. A.

AU - Magee, F. A.

AU - Hanley, J.

AU - Bailie, R.

AU - Donaldson, W.

AU - Johnston, K.

AU - Kinoulty, S.

AU - Doherty, A.

AU - Tate, A.

AU - Scott, M. G.

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AB - Blood culture contamination (BCC) has been associated with unnecessary antibiotic use, additional laboratory tests and increased length of hospital stay thus incurring significant extra hospital costs. We set out to assess the impact of a staff educational intervention programme on decreasing intensive care unit (ICU) BCC rates to <3% (American Society for Microbiology standard). BCC rates during the pre-intervention period (January 2006-May 2011) were compared with the intervention period (June 2011-December 2012) using run chart and regression analysis. Monthly ICU BCC rates during the intervention period were reduced to a mean of 3·7%, compared to 9·5% during the baseline period (P < 0·001) with an estimated potential annual cost savings of about £250 100. The approach used was simple in design, flexible in delivery and efficient in outcomes, and may encourage its translation into clinical practice in different healthcare settings.

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Tackling the problem of blood culture contamination in the intensive care unit using an educational intervention

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