Abstract
The value of a routine 48-h anaerobic subculture of blood cultures was assessed in our laboratory over a 4-month period. Excluding presumed contaminants, anaerobes represented 51 (6.9%) of the total number of 734 positive cultures. Sixteen isolates (all Bacteroides) from six patients were detected by the anaerobic subculture. All but one of these were also detected macroscopically. Excluding the one isolate, the routine anaerobic subculture hastened the identification of anaerobic organisms by only 1 day in two patients. We conclude that a routine anaerobic subculture is not indicated for the detection of anaerobic bacteremia.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Blazevic D. J., Stemper J. E., Matsen J. M. Comparison of macroscopic examination, routine gram stains, and routine subcultures in the initial detection of positive blood cultures. Appl Microbiol. 1974 Mar;27(3):537–539. doi: 10.1128/am.27.3.537-539.1974. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Ellner P. D., Kiehn T. E., Beebe J. L., McCarthy L. R. Critical analysis of hypertonic medium and agitation in detection of bacteremia. J Clin Microbiol. 1976 Sep;4(3):216–224. doi: 10.1128/jcm.4.3.216-224.1976. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Hall M., Warren E., Washington J. A., 2nd Comparison of two liquid blood culture media containing sodium polyanethole sulfonate: tryptic soy and Columbia. Appl Microbiol. 1974 Apr;27(4):699–702. doi: 10.1128/am.27.4.699-702.1974. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Hall M., Warren E., Washington J. A., 2nd Detection of bacteremia with liquid media containing sodium polyanetholsulfonate. Appl Microbiol. 1974 Jan;27(1):187–191. doi: 10.1128/am.27.1.187-191.1974. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Harkness J. L., Hall M., Ilstrup D. M., Washington J. A., 2nd Effects of atmosphere of incubation and of routine subcultures on detection of bacteremia in vacuum blood culture bottles. J Clin Microbiol. 1975 Oct;2(4):296–299. doi: 10.1128/jcm.2.4.296-299.1975. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Mangels J. I., Lindberg L. H., Vosti K. L. Comparative evaluation of three different commercial blood culture media for recovery of anaerobic organisms. J Clin Microbiol. 1977 May;5(5):505–509. doi: 10.1128/jcm.5.5.505-509.1977. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Rosenblatt J. E. Isolation and identification of anaerobic bacteria. Hum Pathol. 1976 Mar;7(2):177–186. doi: 10.1016/s0046-8177(76)80021-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Rosner R. Growth patterns of a wide spectrum of organisms encountered in clinical blood cultures using both hypertonic and isotonic media. Am J Clin Pathol. 1976 May;65(5):706–710. doi: 10.1093/ajcp/65.5.706. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Todd J. K., Roe M. H. Rapid detection of bacteremia by an early subculture technic. Am J Clin Pathol. 1975 Nov;64(5):694–699. doi: 10.1093/ajcp/64.5.694. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Wilson W. R., Martin W. J., Wilkowske C. J., Washington J. A., 2nd Anaerobic bacteremia. Mayo Clin Proc. 1972 Sep;47(9):639–646. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]