Methods to improve detection of pneumococci in respiratory secretions.
Simple methods to enhance the detection of pneumococci in respiratory secretions are needed. Sheep blood agar containing 5 mug of gentamicin per ml was more often positive (89%) than either standard sheep blood agar (54%) or mouse inoculation (65%) in recovering pneumococci from 62 adult and pediatric patients. In adults, the direct quellung test on sputum smear was a rapid, sensitive method for predicting subsequent pneumococcal isolation by culture (19 of 20 patients, 95%). The quellung test and gentamicin plate show improved sensitivity over current techniques for pneumococcal detection and can be recommended for general use.
D000328:Adult; D000362:Agar; D000818:Animals; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D001769:Blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005839:Gentamicins; D006801:Humans; D010614:Pharynx / Q000382:microbiology; D012756:Sheep; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology*; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*
D005839:Gentamicins; D000362:Agar