Comparative evaluation of Oxoid Signal and BACTEC radiometric blood culture systems for the detection of bacteremia and fungemia

Journal Article · Sun May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1988 · J. Clin. Microbiol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6908449

Weinstein, M P; Mirrett, S; Reller, L B

The Oxoid Signal blood culture system is a newly described, innovative method for visually detecting growth of microorganisms. We did 5,999 paired comparisons of equal volumes (10 ml) of blood in the Oxoid Signal and BACTEC radiometric blood culture systems at two university hospitals that use identical methods of obtaining and processing specimens. Overall, more microorganisms were detected in the BACTEC system (P less than 0.001), in particular, streptococci (P less than 0.01), fungi (P less than 0.001), and nonfermentative gram-negative rods, especially Acinetobacter species (P less than 0.001). Trends favoring the BACTEC system for detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Haemophilus species, and Neisseria species were noted. There were no differences in the yield of staphylococci, members of the family Enterobacteriaceae, and anaerobic bacteria. When both systems detected sepsis, the BACTEC did so earlier (P less than 0.001). This advantage was most notable at 24 h (70% of BACTEC positives detected versus 48% of Oxoid positives). The proportion of positives detected after 48 h, however, was similar (BACTEC, 84%; Oxoid, 78%). Revisions in the Oxoid Signal system itself or in the processing of Oxoid bottles appear to be necessary to improve its performance in detecting certain microorganism groups, especially fungi.

• Research Organization: Robert Wood Johnson Univ. Hospital, New Brunswick, NJ (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6908449
• Journal Information: J. Clin. Microbiol.; (United States), Vol. 26:5
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
BACTERIA
GROWTH
CULTURE MEDIA
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
FUNGI
SEPTICEMIA
DIAGNOSIS
MYCOSES
RADIOMETRIC ANALYSIS
SAMPLE PREPARATION
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
DISEASES
FUNGAL DISEASES
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
MICROORGANISMS
PLANTS
QUANTITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
550701* - Microbiology- Tracer Techniques
550901 - Pathology- Tracer Techniques