Bellin Health Oconto Hospital, Oconto, 2025 Quality
Decreasing Blood Culture Contaminations
Preventing blood contamination during the blood culture collection process prevents misdiagnosis and delays in treatments. Blood culture contamination puts patients at higher risk of mortality and morbidity from blood stream infections. Studies have shown that 20-56% of all positive blood cultures are found to be contaminated, with an overall contamination rate of 0.6-12.5%. In 2023, Bellin Health Oconto Hospital had a blood culture contamination rate as high as 9%.
In March 2024, an opportunity was discovered for process improvement in blood culture collection. Many improvement strategies were implemented, such as education, real-time data reporting, improved data transparency, and improved collection techniques. As a result, overall blood culture contamination rates reduced from 4.9% in 2023 to 3.7% in 2024.
In March 2024, an opportunity was discovered for process improvement in blood culture collection. Many improvement strategies were implemented, such as education, real-time data reporting, improved data transparency, and improved collection techniques. As a result, overall blood culture contamination rates reduced from 4.9% in 2023 to 3.7% in 2024.
