Culture & Sensitivity, Aerobic bacteria Blood single bottle(Vitek 2 Compact)

Bacterial/ Viral

Report in 120Hrs

At Home

No Fasting Required

Details

Identifies bacteria & antibiotic susceptibility.

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Culture & Sensitivity Aerobic Bacteria Blood Single Bottle (Vitek 2 Compact)

Why is it done?
- To identify aerobic bacteria causing bloodstream infections (bacteremia or sepsis)
- To determine antibiotic susceptibility patterns of isolated organisms for targeted antimicrobial therapy
- To diagnose systemic infections in patients presenting with fever, chills, hypotension, or signs of sepsis
- To guide clinical management and prevent inappropriate antibiotic use through susceptibility data
- To monitor treatment effectiveness and detect potential nosocomial or healthcare-associated infections
- Performed urgently in hospitalized patients, immunocompromised individuals, and those with unexplained fever or clinical signs of infection
Normal Range
- Negative Result (Normal): No aerobic bacteria isolated; blood cultures should remain sterile in healthy individuals
- Positive Result (Abnormal): Aerobic bacteria identified in blood culture; indicates true bacteremia or sepsis (not contamination)
- Organism Identification: Specific bacterial species identified using Vitek 2 Compact system (e.g., Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus species)
- Susceptibility Interpretation: Susceptible (S) = Organism inhibited by standard antibiotic doses Intermediate (I) = Organism may be susceptible at higher doses Resistant (R) = Organism not inhibited by standard antibiotic doses
- Units: Qualitative (presence/absence); Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) in μg/mL for quantitative data
Interpretation
- Negative Culture (No Growth): Indicates absence of aerobic bacteremia; rules out most common bloodstream infections; may suggest viral infection, fungal infection, or non-infectious cause of fever
- Positive Culture - Single Organism: Likely represents true infection; classic pathogens (S. aureus, E. coli, Streptococcus) indicate genuine bacteremia; requires appropriate targeted antibiotic therapy
- Positive Culture - Multiple Organisms: Suggests contamination from skin flora during collection; however, repeated isolation from multiple bottles suggests polymicrobial sepsis (e.g., intra-abdominal infections, endocarditis)
- Susceptibility Profile - All Susceptible: Organism responds to first-line antibiotics; good prognosis with appropriate therapy; allows for streamlined antibiotic selection
- Susceptibility Profile - Intermediate/Resistant: Indicates reduced or absent susceptibility; requires alternative or higher-dose antibiotics; may suggest methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), or other multidrug-resistant organisms; increases treatment complexity and potential adverse outcomes
- Factors Affecting Results: Prior antibiotic therapy (may reduce culture positivity) Collection technique and timing (early in febrile episode improves yield) Volume of blood cultured (larger volumes increase detection sensitivity) Contamination from skin flora during collection Timing of culture relative to antibiotic administration Fastidious organisms requiring special growth media
Associated Organs
- Primary Systems Involved: Cardiovascular system (bacterial seeding), immune system (immunocompromise increases risk), urinary system, respiratory system, gastrointestinal system, soft tissue/bone
- Conditions Associated with Abnormal Results: Sepsis and septic shock Infective endocarditis Osteomyelitis and septic arthritis Pneumonia with bacteremia Urinary tract infections progressing to urosepsis Intra-abdominal infections Meningitis Acute leukemia and other malignancies Prosthetic valve or device infections
- Complications Associated with Positive Results: Sepsis and multiple organ failure Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) Acute kidney injury Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) Myocardial dysfunction Thrombosis and embolism Death if untreated (mortality 30-40% in severe sepsis)
- Patient Risk Factors: Immunocompromise (HIV, cancer, transplant), indwelling catheters, recent surgery, dialysis, extremes of age, diabetes, chronic renal disease
Follow-up Tests
- If Positive Culture Obtained: Repeat blood cultures after 24-48 hours to assess treatment response and document clearance Source control imaging (CT abdomen/pelvis, chest X-ray, echocardiography) to identify primary infection site Echocardiography if endocarditis suspected (especially with S. aureus) Complete metabolic panel and liver function tests to assess organ involvement Procalcitonin and C-reactive protein to monitor inflammatory response Repeat cultures from infected sites (e.g., cerebrospinal fluid, urine)
- If Negative Culture (But High Suspicion): Repeat blood cultures from different site (collection technique may have been suboptimal) Fungal blood cultures if immunocompromised PCR-based pathogen detection (molecular testing) for rapid organism identification Imaging studies to identify source of infection Serological testing for fastidious organisms
- Monitoring Frequency: Daily clinical assessment during acute infection Repeat blood cultures if fever persists >72 hours despite appropriate therapy Continue surveillance cultures for high-risk patients (e.g., central line infections, endocarditis) Follow-up cultures before discontinuation of antibiotics (goal: negative repeat cultures)
- Related Complementary Tests: Gram stain and culture of other body fluids (CSF, urine, wound drainage) Complete blood count (CBC) - evaluates white blood cell response Blood lactate levels - prognostic indicator of sepsis severity Coagulation studies - assess for DIC Blood cultures anaerobic bottles - detect anaerobic co-pathogens Fungal blood cultures - if fungemia suspected Molecular pathogen detection (FilmArray, PCR) - faster organism identification
Fasting Required?
- Fasting Required: No - Blood cultures do not require fasting and can be collected at any time
- Patient Preparation: No special fasting requirements Food and fluids may be consumed normally No dietary restrictions Collection may occur at any time of day or night depending on clinical urgency
- Medications: Continue all routine medications as prescribed Do NOT delay antibiotics to obtain blood culture (collect cultures first if possible, within 3 hours before antibiotic initiation) If patient already receiving antibiotics, note on requisition form for laboratory awareness Antibiotic therapy should not be withheld for culture collection
- Collection Requirements: Collection from appropriate venipuncture site with sterile technique Skin preparation with chlorhexidine, 70% alcohol, or povidone-iodine Allow antiseptic to dry completely before needle insertion (10-30 seconds) Avoid collecting from indwelling lines if peripheral blood culture available Minimum 10 mL of blood per bottle for optimal culture yield Transport to laboratory immediately (within 2 hours) Maintain bottle at room temperature during transport Proper labeling with patient identification, date, and time of collection

How our test process works!