Use of BACTEC 9240 blood culture system for detection of Brucella melitensis in synovial fluid

Synovial fluid specimens aspirated from patients with arthritis were inoculated into an aerobic Peds Plus blood culture bottle and monitored by the BACTEC 9240 instrument for 4 weeks. A total of 1,072 synovial fluid cultures were processed, and 15 (0.14%) were positive for Brucella melitensis. A single culture, harboring 1.3 CFU of viable organisms per mi, was missed by the instrument. All 14 positive BACTEC cultures were detected within 3 to 7 days.