Evaluation of Bactec high blood volume resin media

BACTEC PLUS high-blood-volume resin media (aerobic BP 26 vial and anaerobic BP 27 vial) were compared with standard BACTEC media (aerobic NR 6A and anaerobic NR 7A vial). A total of 2253 blood culture sets, each consisting of the four vials, were collected. Positive cultures were obtained from 403 sets and grew 428 organisms; 271 organisms were considered as significant. The BACTEC PLUS high blood volume resin (BP-HBV) media grew significantly more Staphylococcus aureus, coagulase-negative staphylococci, Candida albicans, Enterococcus faecalis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. After taking into account the difference of blood volume between the two systems, only S. aureus was significantly more detected by the aerobic BP 26 vial. An enhanced recovery rate with the anaerobic BP 27 vial could not be established. BP-HBV media had an enhanced recovery rate over the standard BACTEC media for S. aureus and C. albicans in patients receiving antibiotics.