Comparative Study for Rapid Identification of Pathogenic Organisms in Blood Culture by Brain Heart Infusion Broth and Colorcult at a Tertiary Care Hospital, Hyderabad, India
Department of Microbiology, Osmania Medical College, KNRUHS University, Hyderabad, India
*Corresponding author
Abstract:
Sepsis remains a critical global health challenge, particularly in resource-limited regions where high-cost automated diagnostic systems are unavailable. To compare the diagnostic performance of ColorCult blood culture bottles with conventional Brain Heart Infusion (BHI) broth for rapid identification of bloodstream pathogens. A prospective comparative study was conducted between January 2024 and December 2024 at a tertiary care hospital in Hyderabad. One hundred blood samples from suspected sepsis patients were parallel-inoculated into both systems and monitored for up to seven days; positive samples were identified and antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) was performed. From a total of 100 cultures, 33 yielded positive results, with Gram-negative pathogens, specifically Klebsiella species (27.3%), being the most prevalent. The primary finding was a significant reduction in the Time to Positivity (TTP); ColorCult bottles detected microbial growth approximately 10–15 hours faster than the BHI method across all patient age groups. While multidrug resistance was common among Gram-negative isolates, Gram-positive organisms maintained high sensitivity to vancomycin and linezolid. The study results demonstrate that ColorCult bottles provide a rapid, reliable, and affordable diagnostic tool for underserved healthcare settings. By substantially shortening the turnaround time for pathogen identification, this method facilitates earlier targeted antimicrobial therapy, which is essential for reducing sepsis-related mortality and improving antimicrobial stewardship.
Keywords:
Sepsis, ColorCult, BHI broth, Time to Positivity, Bloodstream Infection, Resource-limited settings.
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How to cite this article:
Padmaja G. V., Geetha Kaipa, Preethi G. and Ajaz Ahmed. 2026. Comparative Study for Rapid Identification of Pathogenic Organisms in Blood Culture by Brain Heart Infusion Broth and Colorcult at a Tertiary Care Hospital, Hyderabad, India.
Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci.
15(6): 156-162
doi:
https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2026.1506.015
Citations
National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS) 
