Rapid detection of bacteremia by an early subculture technic.

Routine blood cultures in a pediatric hospital were subcultured after 4 to 14 hours of incubation (average 8 hours). Eighty-five per cent of all significant, positive blood cultures were detected within 24 hours of initial incubation. Contaminant organisms rarely grew on early subculture plates. Compared with the traditional 24-hour or 48-hour stain and subculture technics, the 4--14-hour (early) subculture method allows more rapid detection, identification, and sensitivity testing of most bacteria isolated from clinically significant positive blood cultures.