title: Rapid extraction method with pronase B for grouping beta-hemolytic streptococci.
abstract: The enzyme, Pronase B, was used to extract the C carbohydrates of betahemolytic streptococci for serological grouping. Reference strains of streptococci, groups A through N, were accurately grouped by using this extraction method. Of the beta-hemolytic streptococci isolated from patients' cultures, 1,197 were classified as either group A or not group A by this method. There was 100% correlation with the reference Lancefield method. In contrast, false reactions occurred with the presumptive bacitracin disc method in 4.1% of the group A and 12.7% of the non-group A cultures. The Pronase method proved simple, accurate, and readily adaptable to the clinical laboratory routine.
mesh_terms: D001414:Bacitracin / Q000494:pharmacology; D002498:Centrifugation; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D007106:Immune Sera; D008722:Methods; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D011402:Pronase; D012703:Serotyping; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000032:analysis / Q000145:classification* / Q000187:drug effects; D013305:Streptomyces griseus / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D007106:Immune Sera; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; D001414:Bacitracin; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases; D011402:Pronase