Use and Quality of Blood Cultures for the Diagnosis of Bloodstream Infections: A Cross-Sectional Study in the Ho Teaching Hospital, Ghana, 2019–2021

Emily Boakye-Yiadom (), Robinah Najjemba, Pruthu Thekkur, Appiah-Korang Labi, Julita Gil-Cuesta, Karikari Asafo-Adjei, Prosper Mensah, Elburg van Boetzelaer, Nasreen S. Jessani and Verner Ndudri Orish
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Emily Boakye-Yiadom: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho PMB 31, Volta Region, Ghana
Robinah Najjemba: Independent Public Health Consultant, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland
Pruthu Thekkur: International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, 68 Boulevard Saint Michel, 75006 Paris, France
Appiah-Korang Labi: Ghana Country Office, World Health Organization, 7 Ameda Street, Roman Ridge, Accra P.O. Box MB 142, Ghana
Julita Gil-Cuesta: Luxembourg Operational Research Unit, Operational Centre Brussels, Médecins Sans Frontières, Rue Arbre Benit 46, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
Karikari Asafo-Adjei: Laboratory Department, Ho Teaching Hospital, Ho P.O. Box MA 374, Volta Region, Ghana
Prosper Mensah: Laboratory Department, Ho Teaching Hospital, Ho P.O. Box MA 374, Volta Region, Ghana
Elburg van Boetzelaer: Luxembourg Operational Research Unit, Médecins Sans Frontières, 68 Rue de Gasperich, L-1617 Luxembourg, Luxembourg
Nasreen S. Jessani: Centre for Evidence-Based Health Care, Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Global Health, Stellenbosch University, Tygerburg 7505, South Africa
Verner Ndudri Orish: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho PMB 31, Volta Region, Ghana

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 17, 1-16

Abstract: Blood Culture and Drug Susceptibility Testing (CDST) remains vital for the diagnosis and management of bloodstream infections (BSIs). While the Ghana National Standard Treatment Guidelines require CDST to be performed in each case of suspected or clinically diagnosed BSI, these are poorly adhered to in the Ho Teaching Hospital (HTH). This study used secondary medical and laboratory records to describe blood CDST requests by clinicians and the quality of CDST processes for the diagnosis of BSI among patients admitted to HTH from 2019 to 2021. Of 4278 patients, 33% were infants. Pneumonia and neonatal sepsis cases were 40% and 22%, respectively. Only 8% (351/4278) had blood CDST requested. Of 94% (329/351) blood CDST processed and reported, only 7% (22/329) were culture-positive, with likely contaminants being recovered from 16% (52/329) of the specimens. The duration from admission to request was 2 days (IQR: 0–5), and Further qualitative studies must be conducted to understand the reasons for low blood CDST utilisation among clinicians and the patient outcomes. Targeted interventions are required to enhance the utilisation of blood CDST by clinicians and the quality of laboratory processes.

Keywords: blood culture; bloodstream infection; antimicrobial resistance; antimicrobial susceptibility testing; laboratory quality; sepsis; neonatal sepsis; Ghana; operational research; SORT IT (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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