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Improved recovery of antibiotic-stressed microorganisms on inclusion of saponin in aerobic blood culture media

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Abstract

The recovery rates and times to detection of microorganisms isolated from two similar blood culture media, one containing saponin, were compared. A total of 2117 blood cultures were analysed in a prototype automated blood culture system. Significantly more gram-positive organisms (P<0.05) and gram-negative organisms (P<0.05), includingEnterobacterlaceae (P<0.05) were recovered from the lytic medium. Average time to detection in the lytic medium was 15.8 h, compared to 22.7 h in the other medium (P<0.001). The improved recovery of microorganisms was most pronounced in blood samples obtained from patients being treated with antibiotics at the time of venesection. In vitro experiments on antibiotic affected bacteria confirmed the protective effect of saponin.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Microbiology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, B15 2TH, Birmingham, UK

    T. S. J. Elliott, D. E. Healing, M. Palmer & C. R. Catchpole

  2. Oxoid Ltd, Wade Road, RG24 8PW, Basingstoke, UK

    C. M. Stevens, F. Macrae & I. T. Hart

Authors
  1. T. S. J. Elliott
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  2. C. M. Stevens
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  3. F. Macrae
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  4. I. T. Hart
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  5. D. E. Healing
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  6. M. Palmer
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  7. C. R. Catchpole
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Elliott, T.S.J., Stevens, C.M., Macrae, F. et al. Improved recovery of antibiotic-stressed microorganisms on inclusion of saponin in aerobic blood culture media. Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. 17, 566–569 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01708620

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01708620

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