Role of Key Actors in Blood Culture: From the Physician to the Microbiology Laboratory

Blood culture is an essential tool for diagnosing bloodstream infections. In this article, aspects of the blood culture process are evaluated with emphasis on the critical roles of the physician (indications), the phlebotomist—which in hospitals may be performed by different groups including technicians, doctors, or nurses—(aseptic technique), and the laboratory staff (quality indicators, such as volume and contamination rates) in optimizing diagnostic results. Additionally, the role of the microbiology laboratory in assessing and monitoring blood culture quality indicators, such as blood volume per bottle, positivity rate, and contaminant rate, is reviewed to optimize the use of this diagnostic tool.