title: Blood culture systems: rapid detection--how and why?
abstract: Bloodstream infections are associated with high morbidity and mortality. Blood culture is considered to be the most important tool in their diagnosis. In this study we compared standard blood culture with two different molecular techniques (Prove-it Sepsis and LightCycler SeptiFast M) to detect bacterial species and fungi in the blood of septic patients. Both methods showed significant agreement with the results obtained by blood culture. The results of these studies suggest that both the LightCycler SeptiFast and Prove-it Sepsis tests can be used for the rapid and specific diagnosis of bacteraemia and bloodstream infections. It is important, however, to emphasize that molecular methods cannot replace blood cultures, as the latter allow the evaluation of the antimicrobial susceptibility of isolated microbes.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Microbiology, Department of Hematology and Oncology L. e A. Seràgnoli, University of Bologna, St Orsola Hospital, 9 via G. Massarenti, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gaibani
authors.forename: Giada
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rossini
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ambretti
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gelsomino
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Pierro
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Varani
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paolucci
authors.forename: Maria Paola
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Landini
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sambri
mesh_terms: D016470:Bacteremia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques