What happens to reporting when Bandemia becomes a critical alert?

Am J Emerg Med. 2025 Jan:87:105-107. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2024.10.045. Epub 2024 Oct 28.

Abstract

Band neutrophil count greater than 10 % of the white blood cell differential (bandemia) has been associated with severe infections in emergency department (ED) patients. In January 2023, our ED instituted a critical alert for bandemia. We performed a retrospective chart review of two cohorts of emergency department patients, before and after initiation of critical alert. After critical alert initiation for bandemia, there was a 4.6-fold higher incidence of bandemia with similar baseline patient characteristics.

Keywords: Diagnostic tests; Emergency medicine; Hematology; Infections.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Emergency Service, Hospital*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Leukocyte Count
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neutrophils*
  • Retrospective Studies