Korean J Dermatol.  2008 Mar;46(3):310-318.

Improvement of the Positive Culture Rate Using New Enriched Broth in Cellulitis

• Kim HD
• Kim SM
• Park SD

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Staphylococcus aureus and Group A beta-hemolytic Streptococci are the etiologic agents most commonly associated with cellulitis, but many other bacteria have also been shown to cause this condition. The positive bacterial culture rate is the most important factor in the treatment of cellulitis. However, the positive bacterial culture rate in the commonly used media, tends to be quite low.
OBJECTIVE
The principal objective of this study was to improve the positive culture rate in cellulitis patients by using a new enriched broth.
METHODS
Brewer modified thioglycollate medium (BTM) and Columbia broth (CB), both of which are widely utilized in clinical bacteriology for enriched growth, were compared with several novel enriched broths. These new enriched broths were mixtures of BTM-CB broth and added growth supplement factors. They included BTM-CB (BC), Modified BTM-CB (MBC) and supplement VX-BTM-CB (VXBC). MBC media included several growth supplements, such as hemin, vitamin K1, VX supplement, and Campylobacter growth supplement. Strains utilized in this study were common pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, et al.), anaerobes, fastidious pathogens (Bacteroides fragilis, Campylobacter jejuni, Prevotella melaninogenica), uncommon pathogens (Actinobacter baumannii, Enterococcus faecalis, Streptococcus agalactiae). Positive culture rates were evaluated in each medium and measured via spectrophotometry at 660 nm.
RESULTS
In vitro, all strains used in this study grew more quickly and densely in MBC media.
CONCLUSION
Our results suggest that MBC media in a new enriched broth may improve bacterial culture rates in cellulitis patients. It will be necessary to study the efficacy of the MBC media in the culturing etiologic agents from tissues of cellulitis patients.

Keyword

Bacterial culture rate; Cellulitis; Columbia broth; Growth supplement; Thioglycollate medium

MeSH Terms

Bacteria
Bacteriology
Campylobacter
Campylobacter jejuni
Cellulitis
Enterococcus faecalis
Hemin
Humans
Organothiophosphorus Compounds
Prevotella
Spectrophotometry
Staphylococcus aureus
Streptococcus
Streptococcus pyogenes
Vitamin K 1
Hemin
Organothiophosphorus Compounds
Vitamin K 1