Impact of the acute national blood culture bottle shortage on the two-set blood culture rate in a single center in Japan: Insights from an interrupted time-series analysis

Summary: Background: In 2024, a worldwide shortage of blood culture bottles prompted efforts to mitigate its impact, including strategies to reduce blood culture orders. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the shortage on the two-set blood culture rate in a single center in Japan. Methods: I...

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Main Authors: Tetsuji Morishita, Masao Kuwabara, Masayoshi Monji, Shin Lee, Makoto Hayashi, Hisashi Tsurumi, Hidetoshi Matsunami
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-09-01
Series:Infection Prevention in Practice
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590088925000435
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author Tetsuji Morishita
Masao Kuwabara
Masayoshi Monji
Shin Lee
Makoto Hayashi
Hisashi Tsurumi
Hidetoshi Matsunami
author_facet Tetsuji Morishita
Masao Kuwabara
Masayoshi Monji
Shin Lee
Makoto Hayashi
Hisashi Tsurumi
Hidetoshi Matsunami
author_sort Tetsuji Morishita
collection DOAJ
description Summary: Background: In 2024, a worldwide shortage of blood culture bottles prompted efforts to mitigate its impact, including strategies to reduce blood culture orders. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the shortage on the two-set blood culture rate in a single center in Japan. Methods: In this retrospective, single-center, observational study, blood culture data from April 2019 to January 2025 were analyzed. An interrupted time-series (ITS) analysis was performed to assess changes in the two-set blood culture rate, a key quality indicator. A Poisson segmented regression model was employed, with the shortage period as the breakpoint. Results: The ITS analysis revealed a significant immediate reduction in the level of two-set blood cultures following the shortage (risk ratio [RR]: 0.22, P < 0.01), with a subsequent significant rise in the trend (RR: 1.25, P < 0.01). The two-set blood culture rate gradually improved after the supply restriction was lifted in October, returning to pre-shortage levels by December, following an intervention by the infection control team. The total blood culture test numbers remained stable during the study period (P = 0.64). Conclusions: The blood culture bottle shortage led to a significant reduction in the two-set blood culture rate, demonstrating adaptation to shortage mitigation strategies. Monitoring the two-set blood culture rate served as an effective quality measure, enabling timely intervention by the infection control team and subsequent recovery of appropriate blood culture practices.The blood culture bottle shortage significantly reduced two-set blood culture rates. An interrupted time-series analysis showed an immediate drop, followed by recovery after an intervention. Monitoring enabled appropriate interventions to improve practices. Adapting strategies during shortages with continuous monitoring can optimize resources and patient care.
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spelling doaj-art-0f3e104545e747b591884f0660cd396f2025-08-20T04:00:45ZengElsevierInfection Prevention in Practice2590-08892025-09-017310047910.1016/j.infpip.2025.100479Impact of the acute national blood culture bottle shortage on the two-set blood culture rate in a single center in Japan: Insights from an interrupted time-series analysisTetsuji Morishita0Masao Kuwabara1Masayoshi Monji2Shin Lee3Makoto Hayashi4Hisashi Tsurumi5Hidetoshi Matsunami6Department of Internal Medicine, Matsunami General Hospital, 185-1 Dendai, Kasamatsu-cho, Hashima-gun, Gifu 501-6062, Japan; Matsunami Research Park, 185-1 Dendai, Kasamatsu-cho, Hashima-gun, Gifu 501-6062, Japan; Corresponding author. Matsunami General Hospital, 185-1 Dendai, Kasamatsu-cho, Hashima-gun, Gifu 501-6062, Japan.Matsunami General Hospital, 185-1 Dendai, Kasamatsu-cho, Hashima-gun, Gifu 501-6062, JapanMatsunami General Hospital, 185-1 Dendai, Kasamatsu-cho, Hashima-gun, Gifu 501-6062, JapanMatsunami General Hospital, 185-1 Dendai, Kasamatsu-cho, Hashima-gun, Gifu 501-6062, JapanDepartment of Internal Medicine, Matsunami General Hospital, 185-1 Dendai, Kasamatsu-cho, Hashima-gun, Gifu 501-6062, Japan; Matsunami Research Park, 185-1 Dendai, Kasamatsu-cho, Hashima-gun, Gifu 501-6062, JapanMatsunami General Hospital, 185-1 Dendai, Kasamatsu-cho, Hashima-gun, Gifu 501-6062, JapanMatsunami General Hospital, 185-1 Dendai, Kasamatsu-cho, Hashima-gun, Gifu 501-6062, JapanSummary: Background: In 2024, a worldwide shortage of blood culture bottles prompted efforts to mitigate its impact, including strategies to reduce blood culture orders. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the shortage on the two-set blood culture rate in a single center in Japan. Methods: In this retrospective, single-center, observational study, blood culture data from April 2019 to January 2025 were analyzed. An interrupted time-series (ITS) analysis was performed to assess changes in the two-set blood culture rate, a key quality indicator. A Poisson segmented regression model was employed, with the shortage period as the breakpoint. Results: The ITS analysis revealed a significant immediate reduction in the level of two-set blood cultures following the shortage (risk ratio [RR]: 0.22, P < 0.01), with a subsequent significant rise in the trend (RR: 1.25, P < 0.01). The two-set blood culture rate gradually improved after the supply restriction was lifted in October, returning to pre-shortage levels by December, following an intervention by the infection control team. The total blood culture test numbers remained stable during the study period (P = 0.64). Conclusions: The blood culture bottle shortage led to a significant reduction in the two-set blood culture rate, demonstrating adaptation to shortage mitigation strategies. Monitoring the two-set blood culture rate served as an effective quality measure, enabling timely intervention by the infection control team and subsequent recovery of appropriate blood culture practices.The blood culture bottle shortage significantly reduced two-set blood culture rates. An interrupted time-series analysis showed an immediate drop, followed by recovery after an intervention. Monitoring enabled appropriate interventions to improve practices. Adapting strategies during shortages with continuous monitoring can optimize resources and patient care.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590088925000435Blood cultureInterrupted time-series analysisShortage
spellingShingle Tetsuji Morishita
Masao Kuwabara
Masayoshi Monji
Shin Lee
Makoto Hayashi
Hisashi Tsurumi
Hidetoshi Matsunami
Impact of the acute national blood culture bottle shortage on the two-set blood culture rate in a single center in Japan: Insights from an interrupted time-series analysis
Infection Prevention in Practice
Blood culture
Interrupted time-series analysis
Shortage
title Impact of the acute national blood culture bottle shortage on the two-set blood culture rate in a single center in Japan: Insights from an interrupted time-series analysis
title_full Impact of the acute national blood culture bottle shortage on the two-set blood culture rate in a single center in Japan: Insights from an interrupted time-series analysis
title_fullStr Impact of the acute national blood culture bottle shortage on the two-set blood culture rate in a single center in Japan: Insights from an interrupted time-series analysis
title_full_unstemmed Impact of the acute national blood culture bottle shortage on the two-set blood culture rate in a single center in Japan: Insights from an interrupted time-series analysis
title_short Impact of the acute national blood culture bottle shortage on the two-set blood culture rate in a single center in Japan: Insights from an interrupted time-series analysis
title_sort impact of the acute national blood culture bottle shortage on the two set blood culture rate in a single center in japan insights from an interrupted time series analysis
topic Blood culture
Interrupted time-series analysis
Shortage
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590088925000435
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