title: Comparison of methods for the identification of microorganisms isolated from blood cultures.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bloodstream infections are responsible for thousands of deaths each year. The rapid identification of the microorganisms causing these infections permits correct therapeutic management that will improve the prognosis of the patient. In an attempt to reduce the time spent on this step, microorganism identification devices have been developed, including the VITEK(®) 2 system, which is currently used in routine clinical microbiology laboratories.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study evaluated the accuracy of the VITEK(®) 2 system in the identification of 400 microorganisms isolated from blood cultures and compared the results to those obtained with conventional phenotypic and genotypic methods. In parallel to the phenotypic identification methods, the DNA of these microorganisms was extracted directly from the blood culture bottles for genotypic identification by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequencing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The automated VITEK(®) 2 system correctly identified 94.7 % (379/400) of the isolates. The YST and GN cards resulted in 100 % correct identifications of yeasts (15/15) and Gram-negative bacilli (165/165), respectively. The GP card correctly identified 92.6 % (199/215) of Gram-positive cocci, while the ANC card was unable to correctly identify any Gram-positive bacilli (0/5).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The performance of the VITEK(®) 2 system was considered acceptable and statistical analysis showed that the system is a suitable option for routine clinical microbiology laboratories to identify different microorganisms.
authors: Departamento de Microbiologia e Imunologia, Instituto de Biociências de Botucatu, UNESP-Univ. Estadual Paulista, Distrito de Rubião Junior, s/n, Botucatu, SP, CEP: 18618-970, Brazil.
authors: Aydir Cecília Marinho
authors: AC
authors: Monteiro
authors: Departamento de Doenças Tropicais, Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, UNESP-Univ. Estadual Paulista, Distrito de Rubião Junior, s/n, Botucatu, SP, CEP: 18618-970, Brazil.
authors: Carlos Magno Castelo Branco
authors: CM
authors: Fortaleza
authors: Laboratório de Análises Clínicas do Hospital das Clínicas de Botucatu, Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, UNESP-Univ. Estadual Paulista, Distrito de Rubião Junior, s/n, Botucatu, SP, CEP: 18618-970, Brazil.
authors: Adriano Martison
authors: AM
authors: Ferreira
authors: Comissão de Controle de Infecção Relacionada à Assistência à Saúde, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, UNESP-Univ. Estadual Paulista, Distrito de Rubião Junior, s/n, Botucatu, SP, CEP: 18618-970, Brazil.
authors: Ricardo de Souza
authors: Rde S
authors: Cavalcante
authors: Departamento de Clínica Médica, Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, UNESP-Univ. Estadual Paulista, Distrito de Rubião Junior, s/n, Botucatu, SP, CEP: 18618-970, Brazil.
authors: Alessandro Lia
authors: AL
authors: Mondelli
authors: Departamento de Microbiologia e Imunologia, Instituto de Biociências de Botucatu, UNESP-Univ. Estadual Paulista, Distrito de Rubião Junior, s/n, Botucatu, SP, CEP: 18618-970, Brazil.
authors: Eduardo
authors: E
authors: Bagagli
authors: Departamento de Microbiologia e Imunologia, Instituto de Biociências de Botucatu, UNESP-Univ. Estadual Paulista, Distrito de Rubião Junior, s/n, Botucatu, SP, CEP: 18618-970, Brazil. cunhamlr@ibb.unresp.br.|Departamento de Doenças Tropicais, Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, UNESP-Univ. Estadual Paulista, Distrito de Rubião Junior, s/n, Botucatu, SP, CEP: 18618-970, Brazil. cunhamlr@ibb.unresp.br.
authors: Maria de Lourdes Ribeiro de Souza
authors: Mde L
authors: da Cunha
mesh_terms: D057205:Automation, Laboratory; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000592:standards*; D000071997:Blood Culture / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000138:chemical synthesis; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005658:Fungi / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000592:standards; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004271:DNA, Fungal
keywords: Automated VITEK® 2 system; Blood culture; Genotypic identification; Phenotypic identification