The BacT/Alert® three-dimensional (3D) automatic blood culture system
was used at the beginning of the study period, and was later replaced by the
BacT/Alert® Virtuo® system (bioMerieux). Both systems
work using colorimetric technology to detect microbial growth. The
BacT/Alert® Virtuo® system maintains instrument
temperature to reduce time to detection by approximately 20%.24 (link) At the beginning of the study period, AU Medical Center used the
BacT/Alert® FA FAN (aerobic) and BacT/Alert® FN FAN
(anaerobic) culture media, which were later replaced by the BacT/Alert FA
FAN® (aerobic) and BacT/Alert FN FAN® (anaerobic)
culture media (bioMerieux). The Verigene® system was used from 2015
onward to rapidly identify gram-positive and gram-negative organisms.
Respiratory and urine cultures were both plated on blood agar and MacConkey
agar; respiratory cultures were also plated on Columbia CNA and chocolate agar.
Culture data are updated at regular intervals until culture finalization and
completion of susceptibility testing.
Sellers L.A., Fitton K.M., Segovia M.F., Forehand C.C., Dobbin K.K, & Newsome A.S. (2021). Time to blood, respiratory and urine culture positivity in the intensive care unit: Implications for de-escalation. SAGE Open Medicine, 9, 20503121211040702.
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