Optimisation of the Blood Culture Pathway Utilising Behaviour Change

Blood culture (BC) is the gold standard for the definitive diagnosis of bacteraemia, providing the opportunity to recover and identify the causative organism, and optimize subsequent antimicrobial treatment. Detection of bacteraemia is critical for the management of sepsis. This study aims to examine the performance of the blood culture pathway in Gloucestershire Hospitals Trust using data analysis, questionnaires and focus groups. . Information collected will be used to design interventions that could be used to optimise the blood culture pathway

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Key information

Conditions

Microbiology Blood Culture

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

Gloucestershire Royal Hospital

Gloucester, Gloucestershire, GL1 3NN, United Kingdom

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Amy Read

CONTACT

[email protected]

0300 422 5077

Amy Read

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

About this study

Retrospective data collection relating to the blood volume collected and time to incubation of adult blood culture sets (adult sets comprises of both aerobic and anaerobic blood culture bottle) received in the microbiology laboratory, between February 2023 and April 2024. These samples are routinely collected as standard of care and not for the purpose of this research.

Staff members that collect adult blood cultures within the Trust (nurses, Physician's associates and doctors) will be invited to volunteer for the study. Staff members will participate by completing the questionnaire and/or attending focus groups.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Secondary data:

adult blood culture sets received in the microbiology laboratory, between February 2023 and April 2024.

Staff member participants

Staff members that collect adult blood cultures within the Trust

Exclusion criteria

Secondary data:

paediatric blood culture samples
samples where volume, collection and/or time to incubation data are not recorded on laboratory system and/or blood culture analyser

Treatment and study plan

Primary outcomes

Compliance to optimal blood culture (BC) vol (8-10 mls per bottle).

Time frame: Retrospective data collection from period February 2023 to April 2024.

Volume of blood cultures measured in ml.
Compliance to 4- hour time target to incubation of blood culture from collection.

Time frame: Retrospective data collection from period February 2023 to April 2024

Time taken from collection of blood culture to incubation in the laboratory, recorded in hours and minutes
Time from collection of blood cultures to targeted antibiotics, hours and minutes

Time frame: Retrospective data collection from period February 2023 to April 2024.

Measurement of time (hours, minutes) from time of blood culture collection to time of targeted antibiotic prescribing
Staff experiences related to taking blood cultures

Time frame: Approximately 10 minutes to complete electronic questionnaire. Attendance at single FOCUS group at agreed time.

Staff experiences using questionnaires and focus group discussions exploring facilitators and barriers relating to blood culture collection . Staff members will participate by completing the questionnaire and/or attending focus groups.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start: 2025
Primary completion: 2026
Study completion: 2026
First posted: Feb 6, 2026
Registry last updated: Feb 6, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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