Advanced Techniques in Diagnostic Microbiology

6 X.Y.Han
TABLE 1.1. Commercial continuously monitoring blood culturing systems (CMBCSs).
Current system since Microbial detection Test interval Newer
Manufacturer early 1990s mechanism (min) system, year
BioMerieux BacT/Alert series for Colorimetric for CO 2 10 BacT/Alert
varying holding capacity production 3D, 2001
Becton-Dickinson BACTEC series for Fluorescent for CO 2 10 BACTEC LX,
varying holding capacity production 2004
Trek ESP series for varying Manometric for CO 2 12 VersaTrek,
holding capacity production 2004
McDonald et al. (1996) compared the BacT/Alert standard bottle with BacT/
Alert FAN bottle that contains Ecosorb, an antimicrobial-absorbing substance,
and they found that FAN bottle recovers significantly more microbes from all
septic episodes, especially S. aureus, CoNS, and members of Enterobacteriaceae.
Along with this, however, recovery of all contaminants, including CoNS, is also
higher. The performance of the BacT/Alert FAN bottle and the BACTEC Plus
aerobic/F bottle (with resins to absorb antimicrobials) were also compared, and
the two systems were found comparable (Jorgensen et al., 1997). A recent study
compared BacT/Alert standard bottle and BACTEC standard bottle and found
the former significantly improved the recovery of S. aureus, CoNS, and yeasts
(Mirrett et al., 2003). In a study comparing BacT/Alert FAN versus Trek ESP
80A, Doern et al. (1998) found that BacT/Alert FAN recovered more S. aureus,
enterics, and non–Pseudomonas aeruginosa Gram-negative rods, along with more
TABLE 1.2. Performance of culture media with or without lytic agents or additives.
Compared media (bottle) Findings Reference
BacT/Alert FAN vs.
BACTEC Plus/F
BacT/Alert FAN vs.
BacT/Alert standard
BacT/Alert standard vs.
BACTEC 9240 standard
BacT/Alert FAN vs. Trek
ESP 80A
BacT/Alert FAN vs. Trek
ESP 80A, in pediatric
patients
BacT/Alert FAN vs.
BACTEC fungal medium
BACTEC Plus Anaerobic/F
bottles vs. Standard
Anaerobic/F bottles
Comparable Jorgensen et al., 1997
BacT/Alert FAN improved recovery of McDonald et al., 1996
S. aureus, CoNS, and enterics
BacT/Alert standard improved recovery Mirrett et al., 2003
of S. aureus, CoNS, and yeasts
BacT/Alert FAN improved recovery of Doern et al., 1998
S. aureus, enterics, and
non–Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Gram-negative rods
Overall comparable. BacT/Alert FAN Welby-Sellenriek et al.,
better for S. aureus and
1997
antibiotic-treated samples; ESP 80A
better for streptococci and enterococci.
Comparable with detect fungemia. McDonald et al., 2001
BACTEC Plus Anaerobic/F bottles
detected more microorganisms
Wilson et al., 2001