Evaluation of a new generation of culture bottle using an automated bacterial culture system for detecting nine common contaminating organisms found in platelet components.
BACKGROUND
An automated bacterial culture system (BacT/ALERT 3D, bioMérieux) has been previously validated with a variety of bacteria in platelets. The recovery of bacteria in platelets using a new generation of culture bottles that do not require venting and that use a liquid emulsion sensor was studied.


METHODS
Bacillus cereus, Enterobacter cloacae, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella oxytoca, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Serratia marcescens, Streptococcus viridans, and Propionibacterium acnes isolates were inoculated into Day 2 platelets to concentrations of 10 and 100 CFU per mL. Samples were then studied with current and new aerobic, anaerobic, and pediatric bottles.


RESULTS
All organisms, except P. acnes, were detected in a mean time of 9.2 to 20.4 (10 CFU/mL) or 8.7 to 18.6 (100 CFU/mL) hours. P. acnes was detected in a mean time of 69.2 (10 CFU/mL) or 66.0 (100 CFU/mL) hours. The 10-fold increase in inoculum was associated with a mean 9.2 percent difference in detection time. The aerobic, anaerobic, and pediatric bottles had a mean difference in detection time (hours) between the current and new bottles of 0.10 (p=0.61), 0.4 (p=0.38), and 1.0 (p < 0.001), respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
No difference in detection time between the current and new aerobic and anaerobic bottles was demonstrated. The new pediatric bottles had a small but significant delay in detection.
Brecher
M E
ME
Transfusion Medicine Service, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA. Brecher@med.unc.edu
Heath
D G
DG
Hay
S N
SN
Rothenberg
S J
SJ
Stutzman
L C
LC
D000332:Aerobiosis; D001331:Automation; D001409:Bacillus cereus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001419:Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000382:microbiology*; D001793:Blood Preservation; D016972:Enterobacter cloacae / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004867:Equipment Design; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007709:Klebsiella / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D017713:Platelet Transfusion; D011425:Propionibacterium acnes / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012706:Serratia marcescens / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification