New blood culture identification techniques

Bacteremia is the leading cause of death in intensive care units. The development of rapid methods can reduce mortality due to delays in appropriate antibiotic therapy. Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Time-Of-Flight, polymerase chain reaction and fluorescence in situ hybridization are the main techniques used. Liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry, gas chromatography coupled to an ion mobility spectrometer and ImmulexTM are less frequently used identification techniques. Real-time video imaging, FASTinov(R), Uro4 HB&LTM system, Fluorogenic probe, Direct & Rapid Antimicrobial Susceptibility Test system, Scattered Light Integrated Collection. Knowledge of the performance of the methods used is essential to their control and reliability. Laboratory implementation of these techniques must be carefully adapted to a number of factors, including the hospital, laboratory capabilities, clinicians and patient population.