Isolation of Mycoplasma hominis using the BACTEC 9000 series blood culture system

Mycoplasma hominis has been implicated as an important cause of septicaemia. There have been reported variances in the ability of blood culture systems to support the growth of this organism. In this study the ability of the BACTEC 9000 series automated system to grow and detect M hominis was assessed. Three of five wild M hominis strains grew in the BACTEC Anaerobic Plus/F medium but growth was not flagged by the detection mechanism of the system. It is recommended that users of the BACTEC 9000 series should use a seven day protocol and perform terminal subculture for suspected cases of M hominis septicaemia.