Intrinsic fluorescence spectroscopy may help physicians identify pathogens in blood cultures more quickly, according to a study published in mBio, an online journal produced in association with the American Academy of Microbiology.
Researchers used an algorithm to classify unknown blood samples at three different levels. The algorithm successfully classified 99.8 percent of unknown samples at the Gram level, 99.3 percent at the family level and 96.5 percent at the species level.
The process to identify the unknown blood samples took less than 20 minutes, compared to the standard procedure to identify pathogens that can take anywhere from a few hours to two days.
Researchers identified a need for a quick, inexpensive method to identify microorganisms in blood cultures, and the study proposes that earlier identification of blood pathogens can help evaluate and treat sepsis more efficiently.
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