Use of MALDI-TOF and Rapid Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing to manage bloodstream infections

Feasibility study on the use of MALDI-TOF and Rapid Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (RAST) as part of an antimicrobial stewardship program for the management of bloodstream infections in all departments in two hospitals located in the capital city, Tbilisi. The study encompasses two levels of the target population. The first level includes adult patients with suspected BSI. The second level are the health care professionals constituting the Antimicrobial Stewardship team (i.e., clinicians, epidemiologists, microbiologists and pharmacists). A mixed-methods approach includes the implementation of a feasibility trial and a qualitative study. The feasibility trial will assess the turnaround time from a positive blood culture to report of identification of the bacterial strain, recruitment rate of suspected BSIs within a 3 month period, the need to modify inclusion criteria, data collection procedures and outcomes measures. The qualitative study will identify whether the study procedures are acceptable for the clinicians during every day practice.