Implementation of the new VIRTUO blood culture system: evaluation and comparison to the 3D system using simulated blood cultures

Purpose: To evaluate the performances of the newly approved BacT/ALERT VIRTUO blood culture system for the recovery of bloodstream pathogens and compare it to the BacT/ALERT 3D system. Methods: Simulated blood cultures of eight clinically relevant microorganisms were used: Bacteroides frag ilis (ATCC 25285), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Haemophilus influenzae (ATCC 49247), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853), Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 29213), Streptococcus pneumoniae (ATCC 49619) and Candida krusei (ATCC 6258). Criteria for comparison were culture positivity and time to detection (TTD). The effects of delayed entry on recovery and TTD were also evaluated. Results: The VIRTUO exhibited around 3 h faster detection time compared to the 3D system. (p < 0.01) for aerobic and facultative microorganisms. The difference in TTD was greatest for the B. fragilis, with a median difference of 46.67 h. The anaerobic bottle of the VIRTUO (FN Plus) did not support the growth of obligate aerobes, whereas the 3D did so. Delayed entry (studied with an E. Coli isolate) had no effect on the recovery rate but proportionally reduced TTD. Conclusions: The VIRTUO performed better than the 3D in terms of TTD and hands-on-time. FN Plus vial appears to be more efficient than the SN bottle in the recovery of anaerobes.