Assessing the diagnostic utility of routine liquid enriched media in the processing of microbiological samples

Victoria Jordan; Hemalatha Varadhan

doi:10.1016/j.mimet.2025.107196

Assessing the diagnostic utility of routine liquid enriched media in the processing of microbiological samples

J Microbiol Methods. 2025 Sep:236:107196. doi: 10.1016/j.mimet.2025.107196. Epub 2025 Jul 17.

Authors

Victoria Jordan¹, Hemalatha Varadhan²

Affiliations

¹ NSW Health Pathology, John Hunter Hospital, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia; School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: victoria.jordan@health.nsw.gov.au.
² NSW Health Pathology, John Hunter Hospital, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia; School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.

PMID: 40683531
DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2025.107196

Abstract

A retrospective review of the utility of routinely inoculating thioglycollate broth for select sterile fluids was performed. The broth was contributory in ≤1 % of samples, prompting removal of broth inoculation from routine processing of these sample types. Laboratories should consider reviewing the routine use of enriched broth particularly in the context of modern ancillary methods of pathogen detection.

Keywords: Enrichment broth; Liquid media; Thioglycollate broth.

MeSH terms

Bacteria / isolation & purification
Bacteriological Techniques* / methods
Culture Media* / chemistry
Humans
Microbiological Techniques* / methods
Retrospective Studies
Specimen Handling* / methods
Thioglycolates

Substances

Culture Media
Thioglycolates