case_images: PMC5833197_01
case_images: CO2 plots (measured with reflectance photometry-BacT/ALERT 3D) of two of our patient's false-positive blood cultures compared to two true-positive blood cultures. The y-axis depicts reflectance units and the x-axis depicts time in days. The vertical line represents the time that the culture was flagged positive. Note the linear CO2 increase of our case's blood cultures. A lag phase, a log phase, and a stationary phase can be seen in both true-positive cultures. In the last example, however, the lag phase is longer and the log phase is shorter, mimicking a linear appearance.
case_images: CRIM2018-7090931.001.jpg
case_images: PMC5833197_01_CRIM2018-7090931.001.jpg
case_images: fig1
case_images: However, no microorganisms could be identified on microscopy and appropriate subcultures, and the CO2 plot of positive blood cultures was linear (in contrast to the exponential rise of CO2 in true-positive cultures) (Figure 1).