# Are SEP-1 and blood culture stewardship at odds? Retrospective review of SEP-1 failures pre- and during a blood culture bottle shortage

## TL;DR

This study examines whether blood culture stewardship during a shortage conflicts with SEP-1 requirements, finding that many cultures could be safely avoided without harming patients.

## Contribution

The study provides evidence that blood culture stewardship can safely reduce unnecessary testing during shortages without compromising patient outcomes.

## Key findings

- SEP-1 compliance declined during the blood culture bottle shortage due to reduced utilization.
- Most cases where blood cultures were not obtained did not result in patient harm.
- Enhanced stewardship practices allowed for safe avoidance of unnecessary blood cultures.

## Abstract

Timely blood cultures (BCx) are required by SEP-1. The recent BCx bottle shortage necessitated enhanced BCx stewardship. At two hospitals during the shortage, SEP-1 metric compliance declined related to BCx utilization. Review of cases where BCx were not obtained demonstrated most BCx were safely avoided without demonstrable patient harm.