THE VALUE OF INCLUDING BROTH CULTURES AS PART OF A ROUTINE CULTURE PROTOCOL

Three hundred seventeen clinical specimens from both superficially and deeply infected sites were prospectively examined to assess the true value of including liquid media as part of the routine culture procedu re. All broth cultures were subcultured after overnight incubation ont o plate media. The isolates obtained from the broth cultures were then compared with the isolates obtained on primary solid media. The isola tes obtained from the broth cultures only were evaluated for clinical relevance by review of the patients' records. Twenty-two clinically re levant isolates were obtained from the broth cultures only, but the is olation of these additional organisms altered patient management for o nly two patients. It would appear from these results that the addition al expense and time involved in culturing clinical specimens in fluid media is unwarranted.