It’s a medical emergency.
Hospitals and clinical laboratories in the U.S. are currently facing a severe shortage of blood culture bottles, a critical component used for diagnosing infections. The shortage affects the ability to accurately culture blood samples, which is essential for identifying pathogens and determining their antibiotic susceptibilities. This could lead to incorrect antibiotic treatments for conditions such as endocarditis, sepsis, and catheter-related infections, as highlighted in a recent advisory from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The shortage specifically involves Becton Dickinson (BD) Bactec blood culture media bottles, which has been ongoing for several weeks and might continue into September. BD’s continuous-monitoring blood culture systems, used in about half of U.S. laboratories, require these specific bottles to function properly. The company had previously informed healthcare providers about issues with the availability of plastic bottles from their supplier, impacting their ability to meet demand.
In response to the shortage, BD has asked its former supplier of glass vials to restart production to help address the gap. In the meantime, the company is manually allocating the limited supply of Bactec bottles to minimize disruptions in patient care. Medical experts have expressed concern that some hospitals may run out of these essential bottles entirely, leading to significant challenges in diagnosing infections.
To mitigate the impact of the shortage, the CDC has advised hospitals to limit blood culture tests to the most critical cases. Studies suggest that unnecessary blood cultures can be reduced without increasing adverse events, which could help conserve the limited supply. For example, Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) has implemented measures that reduced their use of blood culture bottles by about 58%. Despite these efforts, healthcare providers are facing difficult decisions and adjustments to ensure patient safety during this supply crisis.
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