Rapid identification and antibiotic sensitivity testing of bacteria isolated from clinical infections.

A total of 834 bacterial strains isolated from urine were subjected to rapid biochemical and serological identification and rapid antimicrobial sensitivity testing using Autobac 1. For enterobacteria (742 strains) six tests (acetoin-, beta-galactosidase-, hydrogensulphide-, indole-, ornithin-decarboxylase-and urease-production) correctly identified to genus or species level more than 99% of the strains within four hours. Staphylococci and streptococci (92 strains) were identified with full accuracy within two hours using a rapid deoxyribonuclease assay and immunoelectroosmophoresis and coagglutination. The overall accuracy for the automated antibiotic susceptibility testing using Autobac was 93% as compared to the standard plate diffusion method. In terms of rapidity for 91% of the bacterial strains the susceptibility testing was completed within four hours. After five hours 99% of the strains were analysed. Our data indicate that rapid and automated assays can be accurate and furnish the physician with adequate data within 24 hours after receipt of a urinary specimen.