[Microbiological methods for identification of the etiological agents of bloodstream infections with focus on the...

Blood culture is the gold standard method for identifying the etiological agents of bloodstream infections. A relatively low sensitivity and a long time to detection are its main disadvantages, resulting in delayed administration of pathogen-specific antibiotic therapy and the need to initiate empiric treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics. Such an approach negatively affects overall treatment outcomes and contributes to the spread of antibiotic resistance. Research in recent years has allowed the introduction of methods for rapid identification of pathogenic microbes from positive blood cultures, as well as methods for direct detection of bacteria and fungi from whole blood without the need for prior culture. Direct detection tests from whole blood have dramatically reduced the time to identify the causative pathogen of a bloodstream infection, but they also have their limitations. Methods that combine PCR and T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging appear promising. This article provides an overview of diagnostic tests and a detailed description of the T2Bacteria Panel, its advantages and disadvantages based on prospective observational studies and review articles. Future implementation of these methods in the diagnosis of bloodstream infections and potentially localized infections could have a positive impact on the early administration of pathogen-specific antimicrobial therapy and subsequently on overall treatment outcomes, as well as on reducing the spread of antibiotic resistance.