CDC warns of major shortages in blood culture media bottles
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a Health Alert Network Health Advisory to raise awareness of critical shortages of Becton Dickinson BACTEC blood culture media bottles.
The blood culture media bottles are used as part of testing to help health care providers identify harmful microorganisms in patients with bloodstream infections and conditions such as endocarditis, catheter-related bloodstream infections and sepsis. This testing can also allow providers to determine the most effective treatment options.
The agency indicated that the shortages may lead to delays in diagnoses, misdiagnoses and clinical management challenges in the care of patients with infectious diseases. The CDC recommended that health care providers, laboratory professionals, health care facility administrators, and health departments follow best practices regarding the ordering and collection of blood cultures to minimize unnecessary use of the bottles.
Read more: CDC
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