A novel luminometer for rapid antimicrobial susceptibility tests on gram-positive cocci by ATP bioluminescence.
The susceptibility of 130 clinical isolates of gram-positive cocci to a wide range of antimicrobial agents was assessed by ATP bioluminescence in a 4-h test. ATP assays were performed on a novel luminometer, the Amerlite Analyser, which measures luminescence from microtitration trays. For most organisms tested, there was good correlation (greater than 90%) with conventional MIC values estimated on 18-h cultures. However, a problem was found with detection of penicillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus by the ATP method, 13% of strains showing major disagreement. Methicillin resistance of S. aureus was shown reliably for most strains (94%) by ATP assay, provided they were incubated at 30 degrees C. The Amerlite Analyser offers the potential for the development of a semi-automated antimicrobial susceptibility test, with a significant reduction in reagent costs when compared with previously described bioluminescence protocols.
Department of Bacteriology, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield.
P F
PF
Wheat
R C
RC
Spencer
J G
JG
Hastings
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000032:analysis*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests / Q000379:methods*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate