Journal article
Clinician perspectives of the impact of the 2024 National Blood Culture Bottle Shortage on Clinical Care: results of an Emerging Infection Network (EIN) online poll
Antimicrobial stewardship & healthcare epidemiology : ASHE, Vol.5(1), e347
01/01/2026
DOI: 10.1017/ash.2025.10247
Abstract
Background: In 2024, US hospitals were affected by the Becton Dickinson (BD) BACTEC blood culture bottle shortage with little time to respond and conserve supply. The extent of the impact of this shortage on clinical practice has not been explored. Methods: We developed a 7-question online poll with the Emerging Infections Network (EIN) exploring the extent to which facilities were impacted by the shortage, the geographic location and facility type of institutions affected, the actions taken to mitigate the shortage, and the impact on clinical management of fever and Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia. The link was sent to >3,100 EIN listserv members 3 times during September 2024. Descriptive and thematic analyses were performed on quantitative and qualitative responses. Results: Of 202 respondents from 39 states, 129 said their hospital had limited blood cultures available, 8 were unsure how their hospitals were affected, and 65 indicated their hospitals were not affected. Top mitigation strategies included publishing algorithms for best practice use, restricting follow-up blood cultures, using single blood culture sets, and implementing EMR-based alerts on blood culture orders. Important clinical themes identified by affected respondents included limitations on blood culture use, concerns with overall treatment and care, concerns with bacteremia management, and increased diagnostic stewardship opportunities. Conclusion: The BD BACTEC blood culture bottle shortage caused widespread clinical impact. The themes identified highlight the challenges placed on healthcare systems during times of shortage as well as the effects on patient care. Mitigation strategies implemented during the shortage may create future opportunities for diagnostic stewardship.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Clinician perspectives of the impact of the 2024 National Blood Culture Bottle Shortage on Clinical Care: results of an Emerging Infection Network (EIN) online poll
- Creators
- Evangeline Green - University of Nebraska Medical CenterJonathan H Ryder - University of Nebraska Medical CenterHarlan Sayles - University of Nebraska Medical CenterSusan Beekmann - University of IowaPhilip M Polgreen - University of IowaJasmine R Marcelin - University of Nebraska Medical Center
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Antimicrobial stewardship & healthcare epidemiology : ASHE, Vol.5(1), e347
- DOI
- 10.1017/ash.2025.10247
- ISSN
- 2732-494X
- eISSN
- 2732-494X
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press
- Grant note
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: NU50CK000574
This work was supported by the Cooperative Agreement Number 5 (grant number NU50CK000574), funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 01/01/2026
- Academic Unit
- Infectious Diseases; Epidemiology; Injury Prevention Research Center; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9985121499902771
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