title: Optimal protocol for processing high-volume and Peds Plus blood cultures by the BACTEC NR860.
abstract: The optimal incubation period for blood cultures collected in high-volume (Plus 26) and anaerobic (NR7A) media or Peds Plus medium and processed by the BACTEC NR860 was evaluated during a 12-month period. Organisms were recovered from 9% (1528 of 16,870) of blood culture vials (14% [1302 of 9118] of sets). Ninety-eight percent of positive vials were detected by day 5. Thirty-three vials (Plus 26 or NR7A) became positive on day 6 or 7; all positive Peds Plus vials were detected by day 5. Therapy did not change in response to detection of the organisms (26 "occasional" pathogens, 9 "usual" pathogens) in these vials. One usual pathogen had potential clinical significance, but the patient from whom the culture was collected died before it became positive. In the author's institution, the 5-day protocol for processing blood cultures could be adopted without compromising patient care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical College of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Woods
mesh_terms: D016470:Bacteremia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D001770:Blood Bactericidal Activity; D001773:Blood Cells / Q000473:pathology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002985:Clinical Protocols / Q000592:standards*; D003363:Cost Control; D003470:Culture Media; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006403:Hematologic Tests; D006801:Humans; D008828:Microbiological Techniques / Q000592:standards*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media