[Evaluation of the Robobact system for processing stool cultures: another step towards automation in the microbiology laboratory].

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the Robobact system (DIESSE Diagnostica Senese S.p.A., Italy) for processing stool specimens and to compare it with conventional methodology. METHOD: A total of 240 stool specimens from outpatients in Madrid (Spain) were studied. The samples were processed simultaneously with both the Robobact system and a conventional method. RESULTS: Overall, 13 isolates of Campylobacter spp., 12 of Salmonella spp., 4 of Yersinia enterocolitica and 1 of Shigella spp. were obtained. The Robobact method failed to identify 1 of the 13 Campylobacter spp. isolates and 2 of the 12 Salmonella spp. isolates. The single Shigella spp. isolate was detected only by the Robobact system. All the Robobact results were available at 24 hours. CONCLUSIONS: Robobact is a fast, useful tool for microbiological processing of stool specimens.