BACKGROUND: The optimal incubation period for synovial fluid cultures is unknown. OBJECTIVES: Our study was designed to determine the positivity rate and time to positivity of synovial fluid cultures from adults with suspected @entity5414 . METHODS: We reviewed the charts of 94 adults who had acute monoarthritis. @entity1 were classified as low risk or high risk for @entity5414 . The positivity rate and time to positivity of synovial fluid in combined agar plate and broth culture were calculated. RESULTS: The overall positivity rate was 22.3% (21 of 94). None of the 21 low-risk @entity1 had a positive culture. Twenty-one (28.7%) of 73 high-risk subjects showed growth, with a mean time to positivity of 36.7    27.1 hours. While half of these turned positive within a day of incubation, growth was detected at up to 90 hours. CONCLUSIONS: In @entity1 with acute monoarthritis, especially those at high risk for @entity281 , it is reasonable to incubate cultures for 4 days before considering them to be negative.

XXXX : how long should you wait for culture results?

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients', 'Patients'] @entity281 :: ('MESH:D007239', 'Disease') :: ['infection'] @entity5414 :: ('MESH:D001170', 'Disease') :: ['acute bacterial arthritis']
@entity5414 :: (MESH:D001170,Disease) :: ['Acute bacterial arthritis']
