title: Simple measures to reduce the rate of contamination of blood cultures in Accident and Emergency.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To reduce the contamination rate of blood cultures taken in the Accident and Emergency (A&E) department.
  
  
  METHODS
  The standard blood culture sampling kit was supplemented with an instruction sheet on the optimal method for drawing blood cultures and a large 62% ethyl alcohol impregnated wipe.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a statistically significant reduction in the number of contaminants (p = 0.03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Simple measures to encourage skin disinfection and appropriate sampling technique will reduce the incidence of contamination of blood cultures in the A&E department.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infection Control, Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals, Hull, UK.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Madeo
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001800:Blood Specimen Collection / Q000379:methods*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D010174:Pamphlets
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local