title: Laboratory experience with radiometric detection of bacteremia with three culture media.
abstract: In two long-term studies, the BACTEC radiometric system for detection of bacteremia was evaluated with three culture media each: (i) BACTEC media 6A (for aerobes) and 7B (for anaerobes) plus a thioglycolate medium and (ii) BACTEC media 6A, 7B, and 8A (hypertonic). In study 1, clinically significant isolates were identified in 1,873 (13.9%) of 13,432 blood cultures with all three media. The thioglycolate medium revealed 143 (1.1%) organisms not recovered from the 6A and 7B media. In study 2, isolates were identified in 1,135 (12.9%) of 8,759 cultures with all three media; 104 (1.2%) organisms were isolated only from the hypertonic medium. The increased yield of positive cultures in the three-medium system is likely due to the larger volume of blood cultured.
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D003470:Culture Media; D006801:Humans; D006982:Hypertonic Solutions; D018805:Sepsis / Q000382:microbiology*; D013864:Thioglycolates
chemical_list: D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D003470:Culture Media; D006982:Hypertonic Solutions; D013864:Thioglycolates