Detection of bacteremia with liquid media containing sodium polyanetholsulfonate

Two liquid blood culture media, Tryptic soy broth (TSB) and Thiol broth, containing sodium polyanetholsulfonate were compared in 8,654 cultures. Pseudomonas and Corynebacterium (including Propionibacterium) were isolated significantly more frequently (P < 0.001) from TSB than from Thiol. Escherichia coli, Haemophilus, and Bacteroidaceae were isolated more frequently in TSB; however, the differences were not statistically significant. In no instance was Thiol superior to TSB in detecting bacteremia. In an additional 2,977 cultures, aerobic and anaerobic Vacutainer culture tubes with supplemented peptone broth were inoculated in parallel with TSB and Thiol. Significantly greater rates of detection (P < 0.01) in TSB or Thiol were noted with Pseudomonas, E. coli, Enterobacter, viridans, and group A streptococci, Bacteroidaceae, and staphylococci.