Evaluation of the BacT/Alert® microbial detection system with FAN aerobic and FAN anaerobic bottles for culturing normally sterile body fluids other than blood

Superior detection of pathogens in synovial fluid by the Bactec 9240 Peds Plus/F system compared to the conventional agar-based culture method

“…However, culture of synovial fluid in patients with suspected septic arthritis is frequently disappointing and a causative organism is only recovered in one-to two-thirds of cases. [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] Factors contributing to this problem include prior administration of antibiotics, inappropriate specimen collection procedures, delayed transport to the laboratory and suboptimal isolation techniques. [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] The yield of conventional agar-based culture methods is limited due to the low volume of fluid cultured, which necessitates concentration of the fluid prior to inoculation of media.…”

“…[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] Factors contributing to this problem include prior administration of antibiotics, inappropriate specimen collection procedures, delayed transport to the laboratory and suboptimal isolation techniques. [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] The yield of conventional agar-based culture methods is limited due to the low volume of fluid cultured, which necessitates concentration of the fluid prior to inoculation of media. 4,5,7 Furthermore, overgrowth by contaminating microflora, the bacteriostatic effect of purulent exudates on bacterial growth, phagocytosis of microorganisms by pus cells in the fluid and the inherent fastidious nature of some pathogens may be responsible for false negative cultures.…”

The additional value of blood culture bottles in the diagnosis of endophthalmitis

“…The use of BCB has been shown to improve yield in these fluids significantly. 2 The reported yield of CM in endophthalmitis varies between 26 and 66%. 5,6,[8][9][10][11] Lower yields have been related to suboptimal access to laboratory facilities, 6 and to infections due to other than postoperative endophthalmitis.…”

“…The additional use of blood culture bottles (BCBs) has been shown to increase the culture yield of these fluids significantly. 2 BCBs were found to enhance recovery of clinically significant isolates from these specimens, especially for fastidious and slow-growing microorganisms. 2,3 The potential use of BCB for vitreous specimens has been the subject of recent publications.…”

“…2 BCBs were found to enhance recovery of clinically significant isolates from these specimens, especially for fastidious and slow-growing microorganisms. 2,3 The potential use of BCB for vitreous specimens has been the subject of recent publications. Using BCB seems to be a good alternative to CM in clinics without adequate laboratory facilities for microbiology 4 and these studies reported yields that were higher than previously reported for CM.…”