Improving Turnaround Time in Pediatric Clinical Microbiology Results: Implementation of the Kaizen Method in a Chilean Hospital Laboratory

Timely reporting of microbiological results is critical for clinical decision-making, particularly in pediatric hospitals where delays can significantly impact outcomes. Despite advances in laboratory automation, workflow inefficiencies and resistance to change remain barriers to improvement in Latin America. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of implementing a Kaizen-based change management strategy on reducing turnaround time (TAT) in the microbiology laboratory of Hospital Roberto del Río, Santiago, Chile. We conducted a prospective, pre–post intervention study focusing on blood culture processing. The baseline period (July 2022) included 961 cultures processed with the BacT/ALERT® 3D system. A Kaizen/LEAN intervention was designed, comprising workflow redesign, staff training, and installation of the BACT/ALERT® Virtuo® (bioMerieux, Marcy l’Etoile, France) continuous-loading blood culture system. The intervention engaged all technical and professional staff in a five-day Kaizen immersion, followed by eight months of monitoring. Outcomes were assessed by comparing TAT for positive blood cultures before and after implementation (June 2023, 496 samples). Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann–Whitney U test, with p < 0.05 considered significant. The intervention achieved a median reduction in TAT from 68.22 h (IQR 56.14–88.59) pre-intervention to 51.52 h (IQR 41.17–66.57) post-intervention, corresponding to a 24.48% improvement (p < 0.001), surpassing the 20% target. Time to preliminary Gram reporting also decreased, and workflow standardization enhanced staff productivity and culture validation frequency. Implementation of Kaizen principles in a pediatric microbiology laboratory significantly reduced blood culture TAT and improved workflow efficiency. Beyond technological upgrades, active staff engagement and structured change management were key to success. These findings support the applicability of Kaizen-based interventions to optimize laboratory performance in resource-constrained public healthcare systems.