Rapid detection of mycobacteria in clinical specimens by using the automated BACTEC 9000 MB system and comparison with radiometric and solid-culture systems

Abstract

Recovery rates of acid-fast bacilli (AFB) and the mean time to their detection from clinical specimens were determined by using the fluorescent BACTEC 9000 MB system. Data were compared to those assessed by the radiometric BACTEC 460 system and by cultivation on solid media. A total of 3,095 specimens were processed with N-acetyl-L-cysteine-NaOH by two laboratories. The contamination rates for the BACTEC 9000 MB system were 6.8% (center 1) and 9.8% (center 2). A total of 451 mycobacterial isolates were detected (Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, n ‫؍‬ 296; nontuberculous mycobacteria [NTM], n ‫؍‬ 155). These isolates originated from 94 (20.8%) smear-positive and 357 (79.2%) smear-negative specimens. The BACTEC 9000 MB system was significantly better than solid media (P < 0.05) in detecting AFB, but it was less efficient than the radiometric system (P < 0.01). The BACTEC 9000 MB system plus solid media (combination A) recovered 393 (87.1%) of the isolates, while the BACTEC 460 system plus solid media (combination B) detected 430 (95.3%) of all AFB isolates. Between combination A and B there was no statistically significant difference for the detection of isolates from smear-positive specimens (P > 0.05), in contrast to the recovery of AFB from smear-negative specimens for M. tuberculosis complex, P < 0.05; for NTM, P < 0.01). The mean time to detection of M. tuberculosis complex was 12.2 days for smear-positive specimens and 18.1 days for smear-negative specimens with the BACTEC 9000 MB system; 9.3 and 15.6 days, respectively, with the BACTEC 460 system; and 21.2 and 28.4 days, respectively, with solid media. For NTM, the average detection times were 15.1, 17.3, and 31.3 days by the three methods, respectively. In conclusion, the BACTEC 9000 MB system is a rapid, less labor-intensive detection system which allows for higher levels of recovery of AFB than solid media. There is no risk of cross contamination, which is known to be the case for the BACTEC 460 system, and data management is greatly facilitated. As a whole, however, the BACTEC 9000 MB system should only be used in conjunction with solid media.

Sensitivity of the Cobas Amplicor system for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in respiratory and extrapulmonary specimens

“…Löwenstein–Jensen slants were examined on a weekly basis for 40 days. Culture vials were incubated in the Bactec 9000MB instrument (Becton Dickinson), which is fully automated and provides continuous monitoring [8]. If no growth was observed following incubation for 8 weeks, specimens were reported as culture‐negative.…”

Evaluation of the MB/BacT system and comparison to the BACTEC 460 system and solid media for isolation of mycobacteria from clinical specimens

“…The recently developed MB/BacT system was one of the first fully automated systems for the culture of mycobacteria approved by the Food and Drug Administration since July 1996. Other automated systems for the culture of mycobacteria have been recently evaluated, including the Difco ESP culture system II (24) and the BACTEC 9000 MB system (13,16).…”

Diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis: clinical and laboratory parameters

“…Newer radiometric and non-radiometric, semi-automated and fully automated liquid culture systems have decreased the time to a positive result to 1-3 weeks. 10,11 Thwaites et al 8 obtained a culture positivity of 71.2% (94/132) using liquid mycobacterial growth indicator tubes and Lowenstein-Jensen medium.…”