Comparison of resin-containing BACTEC (TM) Plus Aerobic/F* medium with conventional methods for culture of normally sterile body fluids

The sensitivity of culture in Bactec(TM) Plus Aerobic/F* culture vials of b ody fluids from adult patients at a university hospital was compared with t hat of conventional culture methods, including enrichment in Schaedler brot h. Previous antibiotic therapy was recorded at the time of sampling. Analys is of culture results took account of the clinical significance of isolates and impact on therapy, Of 336 specimens evaluated, 81 (24%) yielded positi ve cultures, of which 50 cultures (15%) were considered to be clinically si gnificant (yielding 71 isolates) and 31 (9%) were considered contaminated. Of the 71 pathogens, 16 (23%) were isolated in the Bactec system only, wher eas 13 (18%) grew in conventional media only; 12 of the latter were strict anaerobes, Among clinically significant positive specimens, 19 (38%) were f rom patients receiving antibiotic therapy In 27 cases (8% of all specimens and 54% of significantly positive cultures), the isolation of a pathogen le d to modification of therapy. Overall, culture in the Bactec system showed higher sensitivity for the isolation of aerobic micro-organisms than Schaed ler broth. Most of the difference was due to a better recovery of Streptoco ccaceae, Additional pathogens found only in resin-containing Bactec media l ed to 30% of all culture-influenced modifications of empirical therapy. The se data confirm that culture of normally sterile body fluids frequently yie lds results that are useful for guiding therapy, Although more costly than standard enrichment broth, the resin-containing Bactec Plus Aerobic/F* vial can be advantageous for culture of aerobic pathogens from these specimens, particularly in patients receiving antibiotic therapy.