What Can We Learn From Blood Culture Bottle Shortage?

On July 10, the FDA issued an advisoryopens in a new tab or window to clinicians that Becton Dickinson (BD) had announced a global shortage of their Bactec blood culture bottles -- which are essential in the case of suspected bloodstream infections -- with resolution likely being months away. Soon after, hospitals using the BD system started to report weeklyopens in a new tab or window deliveries of blood culture bottles far below their needs.