Bacterial contamination of
blood samples resulting from improper blood drawing technique or mishandling of
samples by laboratory staff is a frequent problem in diagnostic laboratories.
Factors potentially leading to bacterial growth include poor hand hygiene, lack
of glove sterilization, insufficient skin disinfection or skin core removal ofcollected blood during phlebotomy.
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| Cancer Patients |
Gram-positive (Gram+)
bacteria account for at least half of all documented microbiological infections
in cancer patients. Skin bacteria, such as Staphylococcus epidermidis (S.
epidermidis), are the most frequent source of contamination. While these
organisms do not typically grow at low temperatures (1-6°C), they survive and
readily multiply when plated and stored at room temperature (20-24°C). Skin
bacteria, such as Streptococcus pyogenes (S. pyrogenes), Staphylococcus aureus
(S. aureus) and S. epidermidis, can contaminate blood samples. Moreover,
bacteria frequently found in mammalian respiratory tracts, such as
Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae), have also been reported to cause
frequent infections in cancer patients. Immunosuppression induced by the
underlying cancer or its attendant therapy, such as neutropenia and breakdown
of mucosal barriers during long-term vascular catheter placement or graft
versus host disease, can synergize to render cancer patients particularly
susceptible to Gram+ infections. Read more>>>>>>>
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