A Case Study in Reducing Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infection (CLABSI) Rates
The Overlooked Patient and Economic Burden of Blood Culture Contamination

Reducing blood culture contaminations has been proven to support antimicrobial stewardship efforts and optimize patient care quality and outcomes. It has also been shown to decrease the occurrence of false-positive CLABSIs, improving hospital quality reporting and metrics.

An intervention took place from September 2021 to March 2023 at a Joint Commission-accredited, acute-care hospital serving nine rural counties whereby initial specimen diversion device (ISDD) use augmented all peripheral venipuncture sample collection for adult patient blood culture draws. The objective was two-fold:

To avoid the unnecessary administration of antimicrobial treatment, which can increase patient morbidity and mortality risk.

To reduce the occurrence of false-positive CLABSIs and associated reporting.

CLABSI reporting and the associated National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) standardized infection ratio (SIR) data for the 18-month intervention period was compared to the preceding 18-month period.

In this webinar, learn how combining evidence-based technique and technology enabled Magnolia Regional Health Center to achieve an 80% reduction in SIR, from 2.6 to 0.5, over the 18-month period, as well as sustained reductions in false-positive CLABSIs hospital-wide.

Attendee Will Learn:

Discuss how false-positive blood cultures can impede hospital antimicrobial stewardship efforts and increase CLABSI rates.

Illustrate the limitations of standard blood culture practices and review the role of the clinician in blood culture collection.

Identify solutions that have been proven to reduce false-positive blood cultures, which can lead to CLABSIs and other untoward sequelae.

Speakers:

Cody G. Stroupe, MD
Associate Program Director of IM Residency
Magnolia Regional Health Center

S. Shaefer Spires, MD
Infectious Disease Physician
Infectious Disease Consultants of Georgia