2021 Volume 36 Issue 1 Pages 53-59
Purpose: Blood culture guidelines suggest that a positive rate of 5% to 15% and a contamination rate of 2% to 3% or less are appropriate. It is said that blood collection from the groin area increases contamination; however, in our hospital, blood collection from the groin area is predominantly performed. From 2016, we followed the disinfection method according to the guideline and determined whether the contamination from the groin area can be reduced. In order to eliminate the difference in procedures between individuals, only the samples collected by one physician were taken for verification.
Method: From 2014 to 2019, we conducted descriptive statistics and past-origin cohort studies on blood culture conducted by one doctor among blood cultures submitted at the Izumo-Shimin Hospital.
Results: Eight hundred sets were analyzed. The blood collection was done 94.4% in the groin area, 5.6% in the upper limbs, and the collection rate for multiple sets was 99.0%. From 2016, when the disinfection method was changed according to the guidelines, both the positive rate and the contamination rate of blood collection from the groin area decreased, and the contamination rate of blood collection from the groin area from 2016 to 2018 was 1.7%. The contamination rate of blood collection from the upper limb was 0%, but no significant difference was observed.
Discussion: Although blood culture blood collection from the groin area tends to increase contamination, it is considered that a contamination rate within the appropriate range is possible if proper skin disinfection according to the guidelines is performed.
