Open AccessIncreased rates of blood culture contamination during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic
Author(s) -
Zerelda Esquer Garrigos,
Mary Joyce B. Wingler,
Petros Svoronos,
Priya Vijayvargiya,
David GoodmanMeza,
John C. O’Horo,
Bhagyashri Navalkele,
David A. Cretella,
I. J. Frame,
Jason Parham,
Jose Lucar
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
infection control and hospital epidemiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.243
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1559-6834
pISSN - 0899-823X
DOI - 10.1017/ice.2021.292
Subject(s) - pandemic , contamination , medicine , blood culture , covid-19 , coronavirus , antibiotics , intensive care medicine , emergency medicine , disease , virology , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , infectious disease (medical specialty) , outbreak , ecology
We observed a higher rate of blood-culture contamination during the COVID-19 pandemic at our institution compared to a prepandemic period. Given the potential implications of blood contamination in antibiotic and diagnostic test utilization as well as added cost, it is imperative to continue efforts to minimize these episodes during the pandemic.