Comparing Pleural Fluid Culture Yield in Bedside Inoculation and Standard Laboratory Culture

Abstract

BACKGROUNDIdentification of the infecting bacteria by pleural fluid culture is very important for proper clinical care. But this is often unsuccessful, as conventional Gram stain and culture are negative in many cases. If there is an increase in the yield of culture by inoculating the pleural fluid into enrichment media, the spectrum of various organisms causing pleural infection and their antibiotic sensitivity can be identified and thus help in appropriate treatment.