Evaluation of a rapid method to exclude the presence of certain enteric pathogens in stool specimens.
A new commercial method intended to exclude the presence of Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., and Yersinia enterocolitica and to presumptively identify Salmonella isolates within 2 h after primary isolation from stool specimens was evaluated. This system is marketed in Europe as API Z and in the United States as Rapid SST. The strip consists of five pairs of cupules for the screening of five lactose-negative colonies. The first cupule of each pair detects the presence of five enzymatic activities, whereas the second serves to maintain the strain for additional testing if necessary. A total of 197 fresh isolates from stool specimens and 217 stock cultures of Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., and Yersinia enterocolitica were tested, with the API 20E system as a reference method. In the stool specimens, 77.3% of the bacteria could be excluded from further workup for the presence of these organisms within 2 h. Over 97% of the stock strains and each of three fresh Salmonella isolates tested produced a reaction pattern corresponding to a correct presumptive identification. This reaction pattern was not produced by any isolate other than the Salmonella isolates. The API Z system can be used as a screen for the presence of Salmonella and Shigella spp. and can provide an accurate presumptive identification of Salmonella isolates within 2 h after primary isolation.
D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D011934:Reagent Strips; D012475:Salmonella / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012760:Shigella / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015008:Yersinia enterocolitica / Q000302:isolation & purification
D011934:Reagent Strips