Biomaterial Database

Recovery of Coccidioides immitis from blood and abscess fluid using the BacT/alert system. 1995

R M Shawar, and J L Salyer, and D Ballou, and J E Clarridge

Department of Pathology, Baylor College of Medicine, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Houston, Texas, USA.

We report the recovery of Coccidioides immitis from the blood and abscess fluid of two separate patients by using two automated blood culture systems. In the first case, an aspirate from a neck abscess containing C. immitis spherules was serially diluted and inoculated into liquid media used by the BacT/Alert and the Bactec NR660 blood culture systems. BacT/Alert bottles inoculated with 10(5), 10(4), 10(3), 10(2), 10 and two spherules produced a positive signal at 19, 24, 35, 42, 57, and 62 h postinoculation, respectively. Bactec NR660 bottles containing > 10(2) shperules and 10 spherules produced a positive signal after approximately 72 and 96 h of incubation, respectively. In the second case, a blood specimen incubated in BacT/Alert blood culture both was signaled positive after 82 h of incubation. No organisms were detected by Gram stain of the broth, but C. immitis grew after blind subculture. Our observations demonstrate that these rapid blood culture systems are capable of supporting growth of C. immitis. To our knowledge, this report is the first to detect C. immitis by these blood culture systems.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008169	Lung Abscess	Solitary or multiple collections of PUS within the lung parenchyma as a result of infection by bacteria, protozoa, or other agents.	Abscess, Pulmonary,Abscesses, Pulmonary,Pulmonary Abscess,Pulmonary Abscesses,Abscess, Lung,Abscesses, Lung,Lung Abscesses
D008297	Male		Males
D008828	Microbiological Techniques	Techniques used in microbiology.	Microbiologic Technic,Microbiologic Technics,Microbiologic Technique,Microbiological Technics,Technic, Microbiologic,Technics, Microbiological,Technique, Microbiologic,Techniques, Microbiologic,Microbiologic Techniques,Microbiological Technic,Microbiological Technique,Technic, Microbiological,Technics, Microbiologic,Technique, Microbiological,Techniques, Microbiological
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D003045	Coccidioides	A mitosporic fungal genus which causes COCCIDIOIDOMYCOSIS.	Coccidioides immitis
D003047	Coccidioidomycosis	Infection with a fungus of the genus COCCIDIOIDES, endemic to the SOUTHWESTERN UNITED STATES. It is sometimes called valley fever but should not be confused with RIFT VALLEY FEVER. Infection is caused by inhalation of airborne, fungal particles known as arthroconidia, a form of FUNGAL SPORES. A primary form is an acute, benign, self-limited respiratory infection. A secondary form is a virulent, severe, chronic, progressive granulomatous disease with systemic involvement. It can be detected by use of COCCIDIOIDIN.	Coccidioides Infection,Coccidioides posadasii Infection,Coccidioidomycosis Infection,Coccidioides immitis Infection,San Joaquin Valley Fever,Valley Fever,Coccidioides Infections,Coccidioides immitis Infections,Coccidioides posadasii Infections,Coccidioidomycoses,Coccidioidomycosis Infections,Infection, Coccidioides,Infection, Coccidioides immitis,Infection, Coccidioides posadasii,Infection, Coccidioidomycosis,Valley Fevers
D003470	Culture Media	Any liquid or solid preparation made specifically for the growth, storage, or transport of microorganisms or other types of cells. The variety of media that exist allow for the culturing of specific microorganisms and cell types, such as differential media, selective media, test media, and defined media. Solid media consist of liquid media that have been solidified with an agent such as AGAR or GELATIN.	Media, Culture
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults
D016469	Fungemia	The presence of fungi circulating in the blood. Opportunistic fungal sepsis is seen most often in immunosuppressed patients with severe neutropenia or in postoperative patients with intravenous catheters and usually follows prolonged antibiotic therapy.