Pneumococcal viability in whole blood as measured in a BactAlert system.

5 healthy individuals were given either 1 gram penicillin-V (PCV), Fluvastatin (Lescol 40 mg) (FLU) or Simvastatin (80 mg) (SIM) a single doses. Blood was taken immediately before and 30 min (PC-V) and 2 hours (statins) after the intake of the tablets. Concentrations of simvastatin and fluvastatin in serum were measured by LC-MS/MS. The blood was transferred to blood culture flasks, to which pneumococci (6×106 CFU) were added. The flasks were gently mixed and thereafter applied to the BactAlert system. The times indicate “time to detection of bacterial growth” in the system. The flasks are routinely incubated for 5 days (7000 minutes) when they are taken out and discarded.