[A method of determining the sensitivity of urinary microflora to antibacterial drugs]

A method has been developed for speedy determination of urinary microflora sensitivity to antibacterial drugs, which differs from other existing techniques by its simplicity and rapid realization. It is based on the capacity of micro-organisms as an aggregate of particles with a refraction coefficient, different from that of the environment, to increase its optic density by multiplication in a liquid nutrient medium in conditions of unlimited nutrition and space. Thus, increased optic density of a urinary specimen with an added antibacterial agent during incubation in a thermostat would indicate an increased count of micro-organism in the medium, i.e. the lack of sensitivity to the antibiotic in question. Optic density being unchanged under such conditions is evidence of the death (lack of growth) of the micro-organism population and, hence, its sensitivity to the anti-bacterial drug being assessed. The ultimate results being obtainable within 2 to 6 hrs and little effort involved are the advantages of this method over conventional techniques of the determination of urinary flora sensitivity to antibacterial drugs that are in current clinical use. Besides, adequate antibacterial treatment can already be initiated within the first day of admission where this test is used.