[Biochemical properties of enterobacteria on polystyrene plates]

The authors studied 84 strains of enterobacteria. The reliability of the results of the biochemical testing obtained by the micromethod with the use of polystyrene plates was examined comparatively to the data obtained by the classical method and API microsystems manufactured in France. Of the 84 strains of enterobacteria, 36 belonged to Proteus, 24 to Enterobacter, 8 to Klebsiella, 5 to Citrobacter, and 11 to E. coli. Of the strains tested, 50 were isolated from the intestine of children and adults, 30 from the residual microflora of foods, and 4 were museum strains. Study according to 23 tests on the conventional media with consideration of the results after 18 to 48 hours demonstrated the coincidence of the data, obtained by the methods used, for most strains. This circumstance permits recommending the micromethod for testing the biochemical properties of enterobacteria on polystyrene plates for broad-scale use.