The Identification and Mitigation of False-Positive CLABSIs

Audience

quality, C-suite, infection prevention, laboratory and infectious disease staff

The following program content was provided by the speaker.

Overview

CLABSIs remain a continuing challenge for patients and hospitals, with the current literature telling us that 30%-45% of all CLABSIs reported are most likely blood culture contamination. This engaging, product-agnostic and evidence-based presentation is a practicable and compelling statistical approach, providing the why and the how of diagnostic stewardship. Today, almost half of all positive blood cultures are wrong, resulting in very untoward patient sequelae.  

An evidence-based bundle is proposed in order to mitigate much harm, provide equitable care, sustain the efficacy of our current antibiotics and have hospitals receive reimbursement for the care they have provided. With CLABSI rates still over pre-pandemic rates, reducing blood culture contaminations has been proven to support antimicrobial stewardship efforts and optimize patient care quality and outcomes. It has also been shown to decrease the utilization of Vancomycin DOT by 31%, mitigating the occurrence of Clostridioides difficile infection, AKI, resistant organism development and mitigate unnecessary extended length of stay, which per NQF could open up 1 million hospital bed days in the U.S. Providing quality care and optimal outcomes for our patients depends on getting an accurate diagnosis. It is imperative for quality outcomes to employ an evidence-based approach to achieve a 97% positive predictive value with blood cultures leading to diagnostic stewardship, antimicrobial stewardship and quality outcomes.  

Objectives

Upon completion of this program, participants will be able to:

• • describe the impact of false-positive blood cultures on diagnostic safety and stewardship, antimicrobial utilization and quality outcomes 
  • state the impact of contaminated blood cultures on CLABSI rates, patients and hospitals 
  • illustrate the limitations of standard blood culture practice and the implications on CLABSI rates 
  • understand the effects of false-positive CLABSIs on the patient, the hospital and antimicrobial stewardship 
  • review evidence-based practices and the role of the clinician in blood culture collection 
  • identify tools and methods to eliminate false-positive cultures leading to CLABSIs and other untoward sequelae 

Speaker

Tammy Johnson, R.N., B.S., CPM, is the Associate Vice President of Clinical Strategy and Customer Relations with Magnolia Medical Technologies. She is a health care executive with over 30 years in nursing, including 14 years as a nurse leader, whose focus has been on raising standards of care for patients, optimizing outcomes and decreasing health care spend by first preventing patient harm. Through presentations at APIC, AVA, INS, SCASM, ENA, AHA, AONL, various hospital associations and other organizations, in addition to an invitation to address the Presidential Advisory Council Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria in Washington, D.C., Johnson has championed awareness of evidence-based, metric-driven improvement processes and programs that result in sustainable, positive outcomes for patients. Johnson holds degrees in nursing, business and health care management.