Blood culture contamination rate in an intensive care setting: Effectiveness of an education-based intervention

Background Blood culture (BC) contamination rate is an indicator of quality of care scarcely explored in intensive care units (ICUs). We analyzed the BC contamination rate in our ICU to assess the effectiveness of an education-based intervention. Methods We conducted an interventional study with concurrent controls. Consecutive BCs drawn during a 6-month period were included. An education-based intervention was presented to case nurses (optimal technique). The remaining nurses comprised the control group (standard technique). Two independent observers assessed clinical significance of saprophytic skin bacteria isolated in BCs. Results Six hundred fifty-six BCs were obtained: 308 (47%) via optimal technique and 348 (53%) via standard technique (47%). One hundred eighty-seven BCs were positive for saprophytic microorganisms; 127 (89%) were considered unrelated to infection. Coagulase-negative staphylococci isolation was lower in the optimal technique group (14% vs 26%; P