As bloodstream infections (BSI) are associated with a mortality of 14% and up to 35% in critically ill patients, physicians often have a low threshold to collect blood cultures (BC) [1–3]. But overall, the yield of BCs is low (4–10%) [4,5] and contaminants (e.g. skin flora) may be identified in up to 40% of positive BCs [6]. Decision making around BC collection is multifactorial and influenced by the provider's role, the provider's clinical experience, the comorbidities of the patient and the severity of the infection [7].
