Microbiology and Infectious Diseases postgraduate teaching (PRIDA)

SECOND CLINICIAN CALL: Confirmed culture identification with susceptibility available

• Prior to calling, check the isolate antibiogram to see that species and susceptibility are consistent – see EUCAST Expert rules which provide expected antibiotic phenotypes for specific bacterial species
• If possible speak to the same clinician who you initially contacted about the Gram stain result (look at your diary record !). Make sure your interaction has a proper formality about it – this is essential for building clinician respect for the laboratory service. See previous posting concerning ISBAR process.
• Document additional clinical data as required.  Records of significant BSI events are gold when it comes to analysis of local epidemiology of sepsis (e.g. community versus hospital acquired/associated events).

Specific advice by organism:

Continue reading →

BACKGROUND

Important guide: G_90_Info_10_A Common Blood culture Gram stains and implications 1Sep22 amended 1May25

Documentation!

• Always record your clinician discussion about a case in a large personal diary or preferably on the electronic pathology record for the patient’s sample if this exists.
• Categorise and record the clinical relevance of the positive culture – a standard template to be shared soon.

Improve blood culture collection practice

• Ensure that your clinicians know how to collect blood cultures correctly – pathology registrars/ residents can get involved with training . See this collection instruction as a guide.
• Check out this guide before you start a collection training program – Blood culture collection tutorial notes 25 Aug 2019
• Calculate your blood culture contamination rates regularly and identify locations that require follow-up training (if rate of contamination > 5%)

Continue reading →