Rapid diagnosis of bacteraemia by measuring bacterial adenosine triphosphate in blood culture bottles using bioluminescence.

Bacterial adenosine triphosphate (ATP) was determined in blood culture bottles using bioluminescence. Seventy bottles were inoculated with blood and bacteria. Immediately after inoculation and every 2 h thereafter for the next 10 h, bacterial ATP was measured as well as the number of colony-forming units (CFU) per millilitre of blood culture bottle. The curves for the concentration of CFUs and for the amount of bacterial ATP present are quite similar and indicate that the method described promises good results in the early detection of bacteria in blood culture bottles. ATP values greater than 0.1 ng/ml blood culture bottle indicate bacterial growth. This limit of detection is reached at a concentration of 4-6 X 10(4) CFU/ml of the Escherichia coli ATCC 11229 strain tested.