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A 1.5 Hour Procedure for Identification of Enterococcus Species Directly from Blood Cultures
05:02

A 1.5 Hour Procedure for Identification of Enterococcus Species Directly from Blood Cultures

Published on: February 10, 2011

Preliminary evaluation of a rapid colorimetric method for the presumptive identification of group A streptococci and

P D Ellner, D A Williams, M E Hosmer

    Journal of Clinical Microbiology
    |November 1, 1985
    PubMed

    Insights

    A new colorimetric test accurately identifies group A streptococci and enterococci using pyroglutamyl aminopeptidase activity. This rapid method shows promise for cost-effective clinical laboratory use.

    Area of Science:

    • Clinical microbiology
    • Diagnostic enzymology

    Background:

    • Accurate identification of bacterial pathogens is crucial for effective treatment.
    • Group A streptococci and enterococci are common causes of infection.
    • Existing diagnostic methods can be time-consuming or complex.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To describe a novel, rapid colorimetric method for the presumptive identification of group A streptococci and enterococci.
    • To evaluate the utility and cost-effectiveness of this new diagnostic approach in a clinical setting.

    Main Methods:

    • Development of a colorimetric assay based on pyroglutamyl aminopeptidase activity.
    • Testing the method on clinical isolates of group A streptococci and enterococci.
    • Comparison of results with traditional culture methods.

    Main Results:

    • The method demonstrated high sensitivity for group A streptococci (83% initially, 100% on retest) and enterococci (100%).
    • Occasional cross-reactivity was observed with Staphylococcus and Klebsiella pneumoniae.
    • The test provides presumptive identification rapidly.

    Conclusions:

    • The pyroglutamyl aminopeptidase-based colorimetric test offers a rapid and potentially cost-effective tool for presumptive identification of group A streptococci and enterococci.
    • This method could be a valuable addition to clinical laboratory diagnostics, aiding in timely patient management.

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