On July 23, 2024, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Health Alert Network (HAN) message about a critical shortage of Becton Dickinson (BD) BACTEC blood culture media bottles. Those affected by this shortage should assess their situation and develop plans and options to mitigate the potential impact on patient care and laboratory testing.
Laboratory utilization experts recommend implementing diagnostic stewardship best practices to improve blood culture ordering and collection practices. Additionally, CDC offers a quality tool to prevent blood culture contamination and improve diagnostic accuracy. Please review the FDA recommendations for the development of prioritization and conservation strategies regarding the use of blood culture media bottles.
For more information, please review the HAN in detail.