Combined education and skin antisepsis intervention for persistently high blood-culture contamination rates in neonatal intensive care

O'Connor, Ciara; Philip, Roy K.; Powell, James; Slevin, Barbara L.; Quinn, Catherine; Power, Lorraine; O'Connell, Nuala H.; Dunne, Colum P.

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Combined education and skin antisepsis intervention for persistently high blood-culture contamination rates in neonatal intensive care

O'Connor, Ciara; Philip, Roy K.; Powell, James; Slevin, Barbara L.; Quinn, Catherine; Power, Lorraine; O'Connell, Nuala H.; Dunne, Colum P.

Date

2016

Abstract

Contaminated blood cultures represent challenges regarding diagnosis, duration of hospitalization, antimicrobial use, pharmacy and laboratory costs. Facing problematic neonatal blood culture contamination (3.8%), we instigated a successful intervention combining skin antisepsis using sterile applicators with 2% chlorhexidine gluconate in 70% isopropanol prior to phlebotomy (replacing 70% isopropanol) and staff education. In the six months prior to intervention, 364 neonatal peripheral blood samples were collected. Fourteen (3.8%) were contaminated. In the post-intervention six months, 314 samples were collected. Three (0.96%) were contaminated, representing significant improvement (Fisher’s exact test: P= 0.0259). No dermatological sequelae were observed. The improvement has been sustained.

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peer-reviewed

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Elsevier

Citation

Journal of Hospital Infection;93, (1), pp. 105-107

Combined education and skin antisepsis intervention for persistently high blood-culture contamination rates in neonatal intensive care

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Sustainable Development Goals

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