Aerobic and anaerobic blood cultures

A blood culture is a microbiological blood test that aims to multiply pathogens present in the blood through cultivation in order to detect and identify them. Blood culture bottles contain a broth and a gas mixture. The latter differs between bottles for aerobic and anaerobic pathogens.

• Anaerobic bottles contain more carbon dioxide.
• Aerobic bottles contain more oxygen.

Blood collection for blood cultures

Blood collection should be performed immediately at the onset of fever or pneumonia, and where possible before start of treatment or at the end of an antibiotic dosing interval, respectively. It is important for the blood collection to be performed rapidly in succession from different blood collection sites, preferably two blood culture pairs each (1 pair = 1 aerobic blood culture bottle + 1 anaerobic blood culture bottle). Please inform the laboratory in case of suspected endocarditis, because a longer incubation period is required in this case.