DETECTION OF HAEMOPHILUS-INFLUENZAE AND HAEMOPHILUS-PARAINFLUENZAE FROM BODY-FLUIDS IN BLOOD CULTURE BOTTLES

Commercial blood culture systems support the growth of fastidious bact eria in blood. However, normally sterile body fluids (NSBF) other than blood are frequently transported and cultivated in blood culture bott les. In a 2-year period only 9 isolates of Haemophilus influenzae and 5 isolates of H. parainfluenzae were cultivated out of 7196 NSBF in ou r routine laboratory. The growth of H. influenzae and H. parainfluenza e in blood culture bottles without blood was compared to growth in dif ferent supplemented liquid media. Inocula of 10(8) bacteria of 12 H. i nfluenzae and 16 H. parainfluenzae strains were not detected in blood culture bottles (BacT/Alert acid BacT/Alert-FAN) without addition of b lood. Inocula of 10(2) to 10(6) bacteria of 2 H. influenzae and 4 H. p arainfluenzae strains grew in BacT/Alert bottles with blood only and i n brain heart infusion (BHI) broth only when supplemented with X- and V-factor. Inocula of 10(8) bacteria of these strains did not survive i n BHI-Liquoid bottles if blood was added after a delay of 24 h. We con clude if X- and/ or V-factor dependent organisms are expected from NSB F, transport and cultivation in blood culture bottles without blood ca nnot be recommended. Rapid transport to the laboratory and inoculation of both liquid and solid media containing X- and V-factor are crucial for optimal recovery of these fastidious organisms.