Evaluation of a new chromogenic medium (StrepB select) for detection of group B Streptococcus from vaginal-rectal specimens.

We compared StrepB Select medium (Select) after enrichment with conventional culture for the detection of Group B Streptococcus (GBS). Postenrichment sensitivities of Select and conventional culture were 98.8% and 92.

Evaluation of a new chromogenic medium, MRSA select, for detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

We compared MRSA Select to mannitol-salt agar with 8 microg/ml cefoxitin for the detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from 6,199 clinical samples submitted for MRSA screening. The sensitivities and specificities of MRSA Select and mannitol-salt agar with cefoxitin were 98% and 92% versus 90% and 78%, respectively (P<0.0001).

Evaluation of the BacT/Alert microbial detection system with FAN aerobic and FAN anaerobic bottles for culturing normally sterile body fluids other than blood.

We evaluated the BacT/Alert Microbial Detection System (Organon Teknika Corporation, Durham, NC, USA) by using FAN bottles compared to conventional culture methods for the recovery of microorganisms from normally sterile body fluids other than blood and dialysates. Clinically significant pathogens were isolated from 116 (11%) of 1, 099 consecutive specimens (80 from both conventional media and FAN bottles; 23 from FAN bottles only; 13 from conventional media only). Gram-positive cocci were more likely to be recovered from FAN bottles than from conventional media (p = 0.