Blood Culture Sampling

Summary

This training video outlines the essential procedure for collecting blood cultures, emphasizing its importance in diagnosing bacteremia and underlying infections. It provides step-by-step guidance on preparing the necessary materials, disinfecting the equipment and skin, and accurately collecting samples using aerobic and anaerobic blood culture bottles. It highlights the significance of following strict protocols to prevent contamination and ensures that the right clinical indicators are present before collecting cultures. Proper post-procedure handling, documentation, and compliance with Department of Health guidelines are also emphasized for effective patient care.

Takeaways

• 😀 Blood cultures are crucial for diagnosing infections, as blood should be sterile in a healthy person.
• 😀 A positive blood culture may indicate bacteremia and a potentially serious underlying condition.
• 😀 Following the Department of Health's 'Saving Lives' guidelines ensures the best practice for collecting blood cultures.
• 😀 Blood culture collection is a critical procedure, not a routine task, and should be done based on clinical indications like fever or shock.
• 😀 Expired blood culture bottles should not be used, and care should be taken to check the expiry date and bottle sensors before use.
• 😀 Skin contamination is a major risk when collecting blood cultures, so strict protocols must be followed to avoid false positives.
• 😀 Disinfect the septum of the blood culture bottles using a 2% chlorhexidine and 70% isopropyl alcohol swab before use.
• 😀 Clean the patient's skin thoroughly with alcohol before performing the venipuncture to reduce contamination risk.
• 😀 For accurate volume measurement, fill the blood culture bottles using the graduation lines, ensuring the correct amount for each bottle.
• 😀 If additional blood tests are required, collect blood culture first to prevent cross-contamination between tubes and bottles.
• 😀 Always complete the blood culture procedure first, then proceed with other tests, and make sure to properly document all necessary information, including time, site, and any complications.

Q & A

Why is collecting a blood culture important?

Collecting a blood culture is crucial because blood in a healthy person should be sterile. The presence of bacteria in the blood indicates bacteremia, which suggests an underlying illness or infection that requires medical attention.

What is bacteremia, and why is it significant?

Bacteremia refers to the presence of bacteria in the blood. It is significant because it may indicate a severe infection, potentially leading to more serious underlying diseases that require diagnosis and targeted treatment.

What is the purpose of identifying the antimicrobial susceptibility of organisms in a blood culture?

Identifying the antimicrobial susceptibility of organisms is essential for determining the most effective treatment for a bacterial infection, ensuring that the right antibiotics are used to combat the bacteria effectively.

What potential risk exists when collecting blood cultures?

The primary risk is contamination of the blood sample, especially when collecting through the patient's skin, which could lead to false-positive results and an incorrect diagnosis of infection.

What is the first step before collecting a blood culture?

The first step is to determine if there are clinical indications for collecting a blood culture. This includes assessing the patient's symptoms such as fever, rigors, high white cell count, and low blood pressure, which could suggest bacteremia.

How should the blood culture bottles be prepared before use?

Before use, check the expiry date on the blood culture bottles. Ensure the bottle’s sensor is not yellow. Clean the septum using a 2% chlorhexidine in 70% isopropyl alcohol swab, and allow it to evaporate completely to avoid contamination.

Why is it important to cleanse the puncture site thoroughly before taking a blood sample?

Thorough cleansing of the puncture site ensures that any bacteria on the skin are removed, reducing the risk of contaminating the blood sample and providing an accurate result.

What are the steps for collecting the blood sample from a patient?

After identifying and cleansing the puncture site, a winged blood collection set is used to draw blood from the vein. The blood is then transferred into two bottles: one aerobic and one anaerobic, using an adapter cap to gauge the correct volume of blood for each bottle.

How much blood should be collected in each culture bottle?

For optimal microbial recovery, a 10 milliliter volume is recommended for adult culture bottles, while 4 milliliters is recommended for pediatric culture bottles. Overfilling the bottles should be avoided.

Why is it recommended to collect two to three blood culture sets from separate sites?

Collecting two to three sets of cultures from separate sites increases the accuracy of diagnosing bacteremia and ensures that any contamination is minimized, leading to more reliable results.