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Journal of Clinical Microbiology, December 1998, p. 3683-3685, Vol. 36, No. 12
0095-1137/98/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1998, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.

Critical Evaluation of 4-Week Incubation for Fungal Cultures: Is the Fourth Week Useful?

Jaime A. Labarca,* Elizabeth A. Wagar, Ann E. Grasmick, Heidi M. Kokkinos, and David A. Bruckner

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, UCLA Medical Center, University of California, Los Angeles, California

Received 1 June 1998/Returned for modification 23 July 1998/Accepted 31 August 1998

To determine the benefit of a 4-week incubation for mycology cultures, we evaluated all positive cultures during the fourth week of incubation in a 1-year period. Of 3,855 positive mycology cultures (yeast, 82%; molds, 18%), 62 (1.6%) were positive during the fourth week (yeast, 42%; molds, 58%). Only 15 of the 62 cultures (24%) were considered clinically relevant (2 isolates from invasive fungal infection and 13 isolates from cutaneous mycosis). With the exception of those from skin samples, isolates recovered during the fourth week are rarely important for patient care.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UCLA Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, 10833 Le Conte Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90095-1713. Phone: (310) 794-2761. Fax: (310) 794-2765. E-mail: jlabarca{at}ucla.edu.

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, December 1998, p. 3683-3685, Vol. 36, No. 12
0095-1137/98/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1998, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.


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