Role of nursing unit factors on performance of phlebotomy and subsequent blood culture contamination rates.

Institutions have a duty to respond when blood culture contamination rates exceed the accepted national average of 3% to 4% and to identify risk factors so that interventions can be instituted. This study outlines work environment risk factors that can influence blood culture contamination rates. Development of interventions aimed at changing behaviors to improve these conditions may result in improvement in patient care, reduction in healthcare costs, and reduction in bacterial resistance.