Landmark Study Shows a 0% Blood Culture Contamination Rate is Achievable with Steripath

As a professor in infectious disease and microbiology, epidemiologist, and Medical Director of Infection Prevention and Control at Stanford Health Care, Dr. Lucy S. Tompkins was skeptical that a 0% blood culture contamination rate could be achieved, especially in a major academic medical center.

Study Results

In an oral abstract of the Steripath Gen2 Initial Specimen Diversion Device® (ISDD) study results presented to PACCARB 2021, the Presidential Advisory Council on Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacterial titled “Getting to Zero: Eliminating Blood Culture Contamination with the ISDD,” Tompkins reported zero blood culture contamination events and near-zero false-positive CLABSIs when 11,000+ blood cultures were drawn by phlebotomy using Steripath during an 11-month period.

The Clinical Significance of Sub-One Percent Contamination Rates

Steripath is the only FDA 510(k)-cleared device indicated to reduce blood culture contamination rates. It is also the only device to meet the evidence-based Emergency Nurse Association Clinical Practice Guidelines and the Infusion Nurse Society Standard of 1.0 ml or greater diversion volume. By engineering out human error, Dr. Tompkins concludes that by using Steripath, Stanford Health Care could:

• Impact inappropriate antibiotic usage
• Improve correct diagnoses
• Minimize patient discomfort
• Reduce hospital-acquired infections related to extended stays