Blood Culture Cleanup Crew (A LEAN Collaborative QI Project)
Contact: Dr. Anna Ipsaro, Hospital Medicine
A multi-disciplinary group of providers including ID, ED, and HM have developed a new process to guide management of children who have positive blood culture results from the ED. By treating low risk children with gram positive cultures according to this new protocol, the team hopes to reduce the number of patients who receive unnecessary re-visits, re-testing, and treatment for contaminant blood cultures. The group found that 88% of gram-positive blood cultures in low-risk patients were contaminants. The new process depends on more consistent use of ePlex. ePlex is a molecular test that rapidly (within 3 hours) identifies bacterial species on blood cultures. This protocol is outlined HERE. The flow includes notifying the PCP or specialist if needed. The process has been implemented in the ED and Urgent Cares now, and Hospital Medicine will follow later this year. For any questions about the project, contact Dr. Anna Ipsaro in Hospital Medicine.