Diagnostic stewardship – optimization of superficial wound swab cultures can reduce the environmental impact of the microbiology laboratory

Very pleased that this paper is out. Unnecessary diagnostic specimens can contribute to the large carbon footprint of our services. They add little or no clinical value to patient care and can even cause harm. We need to work with our users to prevent these samples being taken.

We rejected superficial culture swabs that were sent without appropriate clinical details. Approx. 80% of swabs included in the study were rejected, and approx. 84% of these resulted in no follow up from the requesting clinical team. Therefore, the requester either didn't realise that we didn't process the sample, of felt that this wouldn't impact patient. We calculated carbon and plastic savings associated with not processing these samples.