Blood Volume Required for Detection of Low Levels and Ultralow Levels of Organisms Responsible for Neonatal Bacteremia by Use of Bactec Peds Plus/F, Plus Aerobic/F Medium, and the BD Bactec FX System: an In Vitro Study

Abstract

ABSTRACT We used an in vitro technique to investigate blood volumes required to detect bacteremia and fungemia with low concentrations of an organism. At 1 to 10 CFU/ml, Escherichia coli , Staphylococcus epidermidis , Staphylococcus aureus , Listeria monocytogenes , Candida albicans , and Candida parapsilosis isolates were detected in volumes as low as 0.5 ml. Detection of Streptococcus agalactiae and detection of bacteremia at <1 CFU/ml were unreliable.