Comparing the effects of commercial to open initial specimen diversion techniques on clinical outcomes and institutional costs

Key Points

• This study aims to compare the clinical outcomes and costs associated with commercial and open initial specimen diverting techniques (ISDTs).
• Conducted as a multicenter study
• Compared clinical outcomes and costs between commercial and open ISDTs
• Assessed blood culture contamination rates, length of stay, and antibiotic therapy days
• No change in blood culture contamination rates between the techniques
• Length of hospital stay remained similar for both methods
• Days of therapy with antibiotics did not differ
• Laboratory-associated costs were reduced with open ISDTs.