title: [Evaluation of an automated system in bacteriology. Application to bacteriological susceptibility tests].
abstract: Susceptibility tests have been compared between a new automated system and the reference method by agar diffusion. The COBAS-Micro apparatus for bacterial susceptibility tests is intended for rapid determinations with, normally, an incubation time of 5 h at 37 degrees C. Its is compatible with strains requiring greater than 18 h incubation. With this technique a large range of antibacterial substances (greater than 60) can be studied, in groups of fifteen. With the help of a computerized soft-ware, one growth-index:EPR (End Point Ratio) is calculated, in comparison with a standard, for each antibacterial agent tested and expressed in three categories: SIR. The findings are optimized according to the limits prescribed by the NCCLS. The reference method, by agar-diffusion, is as described by the Comité de l'Antibiogramme de la Société Française de Microbiologie (CA-SFM). A total of 1,048 strains were tested by the two techniques: 518 Gram negative rods, 530 Gram positive cocci, with four common antibiotics. The percentages of agreement between the two groups were: 96% full agreement and minor discrepancy, 4% major and very major discrepancy. This automated system seems to be perfectly suitable for susceptibility testing in a routine laboratory, especially with strains isolated from ambulatory patients.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'Analyses Médicales, Anamed 2000, Geneve, Suisse.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Philippin
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Pitton
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fournier
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004755:Enterobacteriaceae / Q000187:drug effects*; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007769:Lactams; D018942:Macrolides; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D007769:Lactams; D018942:Macrolides
vernacular_title: Evaluation d'un automate de bactériologie. Application à l'antibiogramme.