DETECTION OF BACTEREMIA BY THE CONTINUOUSLY MONITORING BACT ALERT SYSTEM/

Aims-To analyse a continuously monitoring blood culture system with re spect to the time to detection of various groups of organisms, their c linical importance, and the relative efficacy of the aerobic and anaer obic bottles. Methods-Four thousand blood cultures were monitored and the information relating to the positive cultures was noted and analys ed. Results-Four hundred and seventy seven blood cultures were detecte d as positive, 81% (387/477) of which were detected within 48 hours. T he most pathogenic organisms were detected in the shortest period, les s pathogenic later and those generally regarded as contaminants last. Clinically important isolates were also detected earlier. Many positiv e blood cultures were detected in only one bottle of the set, even tho se regarded as clinically important. Conclusions-The management of con tinuously monitoring blood culture systems could be improved by consid ering time to detection trends. Clinicians should be aware of the rela tively rapid detection of clinically important, positive blood culture s in relation to patient treatment.