Analysis of Blood Culture Collection and Laboratory Processing Practices in Israel

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Abstract
Blood culturing, the most important diagnostic procedure in treating bacterial infections, comprises both clinical and laboratory processes and is one of the most essential tasks of the clinical microbiology laboratory.1 The primary goals are maximum detection of true pathogens with minimal contamination and speedy delivery of results. Delays in blood culture (BC) results may delay the initiation of appropriate antibiotic treatment, increasing the risk of death.2,3 Best practice standards have been proposed for various aspects of blood culturing4-7; because it is a multistep process involving clinical, ancillary, and laboratory staff across many departments, there are multiple opportunities for failure to meet these standards. Neither clinicians nor microbiologists are solely responsible for overseeing the blood culturing process. As a result, deficiencies in the process may go unnoticed or, if they are noticed, it is unclear whose job it is to correct them. The aim of this study was to evaluate processes related to the diagnosis of bloodstream infection (BSI) in Israeli hospitals and compare them with best practices to detect possible system weaknesses.

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