Quarterly Trends in Blood Culture Collection Practices: A Two-Year Analysis in a Regional Hospital

This study aimed to evaluate blood culture collection practices in both hospital-wide and emergency department (ED) settings at a regional hospital in Taiwan over an eight-quarter period (2023Q1 to 2024Q4). The primary focus was adherence to best practices regarding single-set versus two-set blood culture collection, assessed using standardized key performance indicators (KPIs).

A retrospective descriptive analysis was conducted using quarterly laboratory surveillance data. Key metrics included the total number of blood culture sets collected, the proportion of single-set collections, and the proportion of two-set collections. Data were stratified by collection setting (hospital-wide and ED), and bar charts were used to illustrate quarterly trends in single-set and two-set blood culture collections over time.

Over the two-year period, blood culture collection practices demonstrated fluctuation rather than consis-tent improvement. In the ED, the single-set collection rate remained relatively stable, from 65.1% in 2023Q1 to 65.9% in 2024Q4, while two-set adherence slightly declined from 34.6% to 33.6%. Hospital-wide, the single-set rate increased modestly from 51.1% to 55.8%, and two-set adherence decreased from 47.8% to 43.2%. Notably, the ED exhibited a transient improvement in two-set adherence, peaking at 37.8% in 2024Q3, though this was not sustained. These trends indicate a lack of consistent, long-term progress in aligning with recommended two-set collection practices.

This two-year analysis highlights that while temporary gains in two-set blood culture adherence were achieved mid-study, these were not maintained through the end of 2024. Although the ED showed slightly better performance during certain quarters, both ED and hospital-wide data revealed persistently high single-set rates and only modest stability in two-set adherence. These findings underscore the need for continuous quality improvement initiatives, regular staff training, and systemic changes to align with international standards, thereby improving diagnostic accuracy and minimizing contamination risk.