An experimental assessment of different anaerobic blood culture methods.

Simulated blood cultures were performed to test the ability of various methods to yield growth from small inocula of different strains of bacteroides and anaerobic cocci. For good early growth and reliable isolation of non-sporing anaerobes a Southern Group Brewers thioglycollate method, without Liquoid, appeared to be the best of the methods tested. A glucose cooked meat method also gave good results. Liquoid had no inhibitory effect on bacteroides. Anaerobic cocci were inhibited by Liquoid in some media, particularly thioglycollate, where one out of six strains tested was completely suppressed.