title: Higher recovery rate of microorganisms from cerebrospinal fluid samples by the BACTEC culture system in comparison with agar culture.
abstract: The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic value of the BACTEC FX blood culture (BC) system as compared to the agar culture (AC) of cerebrospinal fluid samples (CSF), evaluating the recovery rate and the time to detection of microorganisms in a 3.5-year period. From December 2011 to May 2015, 1326 CSF samples (694 patients) were submitted to both AC and BC. Among the 150 positive samples (96 patients), 165 microorganisms were detected: 81 by both the protocols, 77 by BC alone, and 7 by AC alone, demonstrating a higher detection rate of BC (95.8%) than AC (53.3%). Although BC presents some disadvantages, it is able to improve the yield of clinically significant microorganisms, and it could potentially reduce the reporting time as compared to AC. The results obtained highlighted the necessity of a combined approach for the successful detection of central nervous system microbial infections.
authors: Unit of Microbiology and Virology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Viale A. Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy. Electronic address: adriana.calderaro@unipr.it.
authors: Adriana
authors: A
authors: Calderaro
authors: Unit of Microbiology and Virology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Viale A. Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy.
authors: Monica
authors: M
authors: Martinelli
authors: Unit of Microbiology and Virology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Viale A. Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy.
authors: Sara
authors: S
authors: Montecchini
authors: Unit of Microbiology and Virology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Viale A. Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy.
authors: Federica
authors: F
authors: Motta
authors: Unit of Microbiology and Virology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Viale A. Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy.
authors: Silvia
authors: S
authors: Covan
authors: Unit of Microbiology and Virology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Viale A. Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy.
authors: Sandra
authors: S
authors: Larini
authors: Unit of Microbiology and Virology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Viale A. Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy.
authors: Maria Cristina
authors: MC
authors: Medici
authors: Unit of Microbiology and Virology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Viale A. Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy.
authors: Maria Cristina
authors: MC
authors: Arcangeletti
authors: Unit of Microbiology and Virology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Viale A. Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy.
authors: Carlo
authors: C
authors: Chezzi
authors: Unit of Microbiology and Virology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Viale A. Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy.
authors: Flora
authors: F
authors: De Conto
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000379:methods; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000382:microbiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Agar culture; BACTEC FX; CNS microbial infection; Cerebrospinal fluid; MALDI-TOF MS