[Prospective, comparative study of a infrared spectroscopic blood culture system (Bactec NR-660)].

: The automatic Bactec NR-660 system was compared with a conventional blood culture system - Septi-Check, La Roche (RSC). Out of a total of 962 blood cultures 157 isolates were detected: 123 in RSC and 104 in Bactec 6A. If only clinical relevant strains were considered the isolation rate was nearly equal in both systems, being 75% in RSC and 77% in Bactec 6A, respectively. The RSC-system was more frequently contaminated (3.3% vs 1.0%). Positive blood cultures were detected 12 hrs earlier by the Bactec system.