Improved blood culture workflow in the time to detection of microorganisms placing incubators systems outside of microbiology laboratory.

Purpose: We analyzed the workflow of the blood culture procedure with one blood culture incubator in the microbiology laboratory, in comparison with the workflow with the incubators systems placing outside, and in a microbiology laboratory without 24-h staffing.
Methods: We assessed the elapsed time (ET) and time-to-result (TTR) in the two laboratory workflows during 1 month period in consecutive years. First period with one BACT/ALERT 3D module located in the microbiology laboratory (ML) (access 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.) and second period with three BACT/ALERT VIRTUO modules (one located in ML and two in the core sample laboratory, access 24 h).
Results: The mean ET with BACT/ALERT 3D was 7.09 ± 6.15 h and 1.32 ± 3.14 h with BACT/ALERT VIRTUO. During the 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. shift, the average ETs were 3.54 ± 5.06 vs 1.59 ± 1.29 h for the two time periods, respectively. Since the automated loading of bottles on the BACT/ALERT VIRTUO allows processing of blood cultures during the night shift, there was a significant reduction of time during the 10:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. shift, where the average ET was 10.52 ± 5.23 vs 1.00 ± 4.40 h, respectively. The percentage of positivity in the first period was 9.03% and 11.18% in the second (p = 0.0003). The average TTR in the first period was 24.78 ± 15.9 h and 16.85 ± 14.13 h in the second (p < 0.0001).
Conclusions: Easy 24-h access to blood culture incubators resulted in significant improvement in the workflow of blood culture, decreasing ET, and therefore decreasing the time to positivity and the efficiency of recovery.