Evaluation of the Effectiveness of the Implementation of a New Workflow Process on the Incidence of High Blood Culture Contamination (BCC) Rates in the Emergency Department

The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice Project was to evaluate the effectiveness of a quality improvement (QI) initiative to reduce blood culture contamination (BCC) rates in the emergency department (ED) of a large healthcare organization in the southeastern United States. Evidence-base sources indicated that high blood culture contamination (BCC) rates compromised diagnostic accuracy, leading to unnecessary treatments, increased hospital stays, and elevated healthcare costs. The project was guided by the evidence-based practice question: “How does the implementation of a new workflow process influence the incidence of high blood culture contamination (BCC) rates in the emergency department?” To address the practice gap, a standardized workflow process and staff education were implemented to ensure proper adherence to best practices in blood culture collection to reduce BCC rates by at least 25% over 4 months. The plan-do-study model was used for this QI initiative. Descriptive statistics were used to evaluate the data. The initiative achieved a 29.23% reduction in contamination rates, surpassing the initial target. A key component of the QI initiative was the introduction of standardized blood culture collection kits. The success of the intervention aligns with findings from other studies that have demonstrated the importance of consistent collection practices in reducing contamination rates and improving diagnostic accuracy. This initiative highlights the importance of workflow standardization and continuous staff education in enhancing patient safety and healthcare efficiency. Additionally, the project holds broader implications for positive social change and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) by reducing unnecessary treatments and improving resource efficiency.