[Evaluation of Sen-SIR, a new microsystem for the identification and determination of bacterial sensitivity]

The use of semiautomatic methods for identification and study of bacterial sensitivity to antimicrobials is increasingly widespread in clinical Microbiology. In the present study, the evaluation of a new micromethod (Sen-SIR, BBL) for the identification and determination of bacterial sensitivity is reported. 115 clinical isolates of enterobacteria, 10 strains of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus and 57 gram positive cocci, previously identified as belonging to the geni Staphylococcus and Streptococcus were evaluated. In gram negative organisms, the concordance with classical identification methods was 98.4%. In gram positive organisms, the concordance was lower only for the differentiation between group D streptococci and enterococci. The observed sensitivities were similar to those seen with the disk method, except basically for Morganella morganii and Proteus vulgaris. This method is quick, simple and reliable; thus, it can represent an alternative to classical identification methods.