Reducing laboratory delays in blood culture pathogen identification: a quality improvement project.

ABSTRACT: Sepsis is a medical emergency caused by bacteria in the bloodstream and a dysregulated immune response. It is important to identify the bacteria rapidly so that the patient receives effective antibiotics. Delays are associated with higher mortality levels and poorer clinical outcomes.Guidance requires full bacterial identification (ID) from bottle flagging positive, within 48 hours with older technology and 24 hours with modern platforms. Before this quality improvement project, we were using old technology including Analytical Profile Index (API) biochemical tests. Analysis highlighted very poor performance (mean 60 hours to ID), resulting in limited clinical utility and clinical incidents. There was great frustration among laboratory and clinical staff.This project aimed to reduce the ti

SUBMITTER: Halstead FD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11931963 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature