Simple measures to reduce the rate of contamination of blood cultures in Accident and Emergency.
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.
Madeo
M
M
Department of Infection Control, Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals, Hull, UK.
Jackson
T
T
Williams
C
C
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
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local