JUSTIFICATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A POLICY REQUIRING 2 BLOOD CULTURES WHEN ONE IS ORDERED

In many health care settings, practitioners frequently order a single blood culture from Patients in whom bacteremia or fungemia is suspected. Numerous studies, however, have concluded that two or three cultures from both pediatric and adult patients are clinically advisable to increase detection of pathogens, provide the shortest possible detection time, help to differentiate pathogens from contaminants, and provide guidance for selection of the most appropriate therapy. The blood volume that can safely be collected from patients for culture is directly related to body weight. Specific recommendations are made for the number, timing, and blood volumes for cultures collected from pediatric as well as adult patients. Steps are outlined to successfully establish a policy mandating at least two blood cultures from symptomatic patients of any weight or age.