Overview of Bacterial Identification Methods and Strategies Flashcards
(176 cards)
Differentiate microorganisms based on the ability to use acetamide as the sole source of carbon
Acetamide Utilization
Principle of acetamide utilization test
Bacteria capable of growth on this medium produce the enzyme acylamidase, which deaminates acetamide to release ammonia. The production of ammonia results in an alkaline pH, causing the medium to change color from green to royal blue
Expected results of acetamide utilization test
Positive: Deamination of the acetamide, resulting in a blue color
Negative: No color change
Quality control/s of acetamide utilization test
Positive: Pseudomonas aeruginosa—growth; blue color
Negative: Escherichia coli—no growth; green color
Differentiate organisms based on ability to use acetate as the sole source of carbon
Acetate Utilization
Differentiate Shigella sp. from Escherichia coli.
Acetate Utilization
Principle of acetate utilization test
Organisms capable of using sodium acetate grow on the medium, resulting in an alkaline pH, turning the indicator from green to blue
Expected results of acetate utilization test
Positive: Medium becomes alkalinized (blue)
Negative: No growth or growth with no indicator change to blue (green)
Quality control/s of acetate utilization test
Positive: Escherichia coli— growth; blue
Negative: Shigella sonnei— small amount of growth; green
This test is used for presumptive identification and differentiation of beta-hemolytic group A streptococci (Streptococcus pyogenes–susceptible) from other beta-hemolytic streptococci
Bacitracin Susceptibility
This test is used to distinguish staphylococci species (resistant) from micrococci (susceptible)
Bacitracin Susceptibility
Principle of bacitracin susceptibility test
The antibiotic bacitracin inhibits the synthesis of bacterial cell walls. It is placed on the agar plate and after incubation, the plate is examined for zone of inhibition
Expected result/s of bacitracin susceptibility test
Positive: Any zone of inhibition greater than 10 mm; susceptible
Negative: No zone of inhibition; resistant
Quality control/s of bacitracin susceptibility test
Positive: Streptococcus pyogenes—susceptible
Micrococcus luteus—susceptible
Negative: Streptococcus agalactiae—resistant
Staphylococcus aureus—resistant
This test is used for the presumptive identification of enterococci and organisms in the Streptococcus bovis group
Bile Esculin Test
This test differentiates enterococci and group D streptococci from non–group D viridans streptococci
Bile Esculin Test
Principle of bile esculin test
Gram-positive bacteria other than some streptococci and enterococci are inhibited by the bile salts in this medium. Organisms capable of growth in the presence of 4% bile and able to hydrolyze esculin to esculetin. Esculetin reacts with Fe3+ and forms a dark brown to black precipitate
Expected results of bile esculin test
Positive: Growth and blackening of the agar slant
Negative: Growth and no blackening of medium
No growth
Quality control/s of bile esculin test
Positive: Enterococcus faecalis — growth; black precipitate
Negative: Escherichia coli— growth; no color change
Streptococcus pyogenes—no growth; no color change
This test differentiates Streptococcus pneumoniae (positive–soluble) from alpha-hemolytic streptococci (negative–insoluble)
Bile Solubility Test
Principle of bile solubility test
Bile or a solution of a bile salt rapidly lyses pneumococcal colonies. Lysis depends on the presence of an intracellular autolytic enzyme, amidase. Bile salts lower the surface tension between the bacterial cell membrane and the medium, thus accelerating the organism’s natural autolytic process
Expected results of bile solubility test
Positive: Colony disintegrates; an imprint of the lysed colony may remain in the zone
Negative: Intact colonies
Quality control/s of bile solubility test
Positive: Streptococcus pneumoniae—bile soluble
Negative: Enterococcus faecalis—bile insoluble
This is a rapid test to detect the enzyme butyrate esterase, to aid identification of Moraxella (Branhamella) catarrhalis
Butyrate Disk