Prolonged incubation and extensive subculturing do not increase recovery of clinically significant microorganisms from standard automated blood cultures

Clin Infect Dis. 2005 Dec 1;41(11):1677-80. doi: 10.1086/497595. Epub 2005 Oct 28.

Abstract

An extensive blood culture protocol, including prolonged incubation of cultures, for 215 patients believed to have had endocarditis yielded only 3 clinically relevant results. Twenty-four Haemophilus, Actinobacillus, Cardiobacterium, Eikenella, and Kingella (i.e., HACEK) organisms were recovered from standard 5-day blood cultures during the same time period. Specialized methods and not extended incubation times are recommended for recovery of fastidious agents of septicemia.

MeSH terms

  • Bacteremia / diagnosis
  • Bacteremia / microbiology
  • Bacteria / isolation & purification*
  • Bacteriological Techniques / methods*
  • Culture Media
  • Endocarditis, Bacterial / diagnosis
  • Endocarditis, Bacterial / microbiology
  • Humans
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Culture Media