[Bacteremia caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and/or Mycobacterium avium detected by the non-radiometric Bactec system].

BACKGROUND: To assess the utility of Bactec non-radiometric system in detecting disseminated mycobacteremia. METHODS: Blood cultures are processed using the Bactec NR 660/HPS system. Incubation of the NR6A vials, from HIV infected patients, is prolonged for 6 weeks and read once a week. After the 14th day of incubation a growth value > or = 30 is considered positive. RESULTS: Mycobacteria were recovered from 80 blood cultures from 32 human immunodeficiency virus infected patients. The mean time required to detect growth was 37.8 days (range 20-45). Mycobacterium tuberculosis was isolated from 18 patients and Mycobacterium avium from 14. In 12 patients (37.5%) blood culture was the first or the only positive specimen. CONCLUSIONS: Prolonged incubation of NR6A medium has proved to be a suitable method for detecting mycobacteremia.