Thank you for your FOI request.
Please find attached our clinical policy where you will find the answers to your questions.Clinical Policy Venepunture Including Blood Cultures attached.
FOI Request
Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, could you provide the following information:
1. Prior to blood culture collection, what skin asepsis solution does your hospital/Trust/Health Board use in the skin preparation/ cleaning process - a. licensed skin antisepsis applicator b. licensed skin disinfection wipe c. non licensed wipe d. other?
2. How long do you clean the patient’s skin for and what technique is used?
3. How long does your organisation allow the patients skin to dry before blood culture collection?
4. Do you know the percentage of contamination rate of blood cultures in your organisation?
5. What is the management process following a confirmed blood sample contamination. Is it escalation to a. infection control team b. microbiology c. education and development d. other, please specify or e. no process?