title: Individualized Approaches Are Needed for Optimized Blood Cultures.
abstract: Many strategies and technologies are available to improve blood culture (BC)-based diagnostics. The ideal approach to BCs varies between healthcare institutions. Institutions need to examine clinical needs and practices in order to optimize BC-based diagnostics for their site. Before laboratories consider offering rapid matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-ToF MS) or expensive rapid panel-based molecular BC diagnostics, they should optimize preanalytical, analytical, and postanalytical processes and procedures surrounding BC systems. Several factors need to be considered, including local resistance rates, antibiotic prescribing patterns, patient- and provider-types, laboratory staffing, and personnel available to liaise with clinicians to optimize antibiotic use. While there is much excitement surrounding new high-technology diagnostics, cost-neutral benefits can be realized by optimizing existing strategies and using available tools in creative ways. Rapid BC diagnostics should be implemented in a manner that optimizes impact. Strategies to optimize these BC diagnostics in individual laboratories are presented here.
authors: Department of Pediatric Infections Diseases, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee.
authors: Ritu
authors: R
authors: Banerjee
authors: Division of Clinical Microbiology, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors: Volkan
authors: V
authors: Özenci
authors: Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology.|Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.
authors: Robin
authors: R
authors: Patel
mesh_terms: D016470:Bacteremia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D000071997:Blood Culture / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans
keywords: bacteremia; blood culture