Europe PMC

This website requires cookies, and the limited processing of your personal data in order to function. By using the site you are agreeing to this as outlined in our privacy notice and cookie policy.

Multipoint identification of Enterobacteriaceae: report of the British Society for Microbial Technology collaborative study.

Author information

Affiliations

  • 1. Department of Microbiology, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield.
      Authors
    • Winstanley TG 1
    (1 author)

Journal of Clinical Pathology, 01 Jul 1993, 46(7):637-641
https://doi.org/10.1136/jcp.46.7.637 PMID: 8157751 PMCID: PMC501393

Free full text in Europe PMC

Abstract 

Aims

To evaluate the accuracy and reproducibility of multipoint identification schemes in a multicentre trial.

Methods

Forty two strains of Enterobacteriaceae were distributed to 22 laboratories for identification by routine multipoint methods. Analysis of results enabled inter- and intralaboratory reproducibility of a variety of tests, and the ability of laboratories to identify individual organisms to be determined.

Results

Interlaboratory reproducibility of most of the biochemical tests was acceptable. The least reproducible tests, both within and between laboratories, were citrate utilisation, production of urease and beta galactosidase, detection of motility, and decarboxylation of lysine and ornithine. Inconsistent results for these tests were often associated with misidentified strains. Most laboratories performed identifications satisfactorily. Most isolates (72.1%) were identified correctly to species level; 9.6% were incorrectly identified, and 6.4% could not be identified at all. The most difficult organisms to identify were Citrobacter freundii, Enterobacter cloacae, Hafnia alvei and Aeromonas hydrophila. Strains of Enterobacter, Serratia sp, and Providencia sp were difficult to speciate. Several laboratories could not identify organisms exhibiting at least one atypical biochemical reaction.

Conclusion

This study emphasises the need for quality control of media and reagents for multipoint identification of Gram negative enteric bacilli.

Free full text 

Logo of jclinpathLink to Publisher's site
J Clin Pathol. 1993 Jul; 46(7): 637–641.
PMCID: PMC501393
PMID: 8157751

Multipoint identification of Enterobacteriaceae: report of the British Society for Microbial Technology collaborative study.

T G Winstanley, D I Limb, P F Wheat, and C D Nicol
Author information Copyright and License information Disclaimer

Abstract

AIMS--To evaluate the accuracy and reproducibility of multipoint identification schemes in a multicentre trial. METHODS--Forty two strains of Enterobacteriaceae were distributed to 22 laboratories for identification by routine multipoint methods. Analysis of results enabled inter- and intralaboratory reproducibility of a variety of tests, and the ability of laboratories to identify individual organisms to be determined. RESULTS--Interlaboratory reproducibility of most of the biochemical tests was acceptable. The least reproducible tests, both within and between laboratories, were citrate utilisation, production of urease and beta galactosidase, detection of motility, and decarboxylation of lysine and ornithine. Inconsistent results for these tests were often associated with misidentified strains. Most laboratories performed identifications satisfactorily. Most isolates (72.1%) were identified correctly to species level; 9.6% were incorrectly identified, and 6.4% could not be identified at all. The most difficult organisms to identify were Citrobacter freundii, Enterobacter cloacae, Hafnia alvei and Aeromonas hydrophila. Strains of Enterobacter, Serratia sp, and Providencia sp were difficult to speciate. Several laboratories could not identify organisms exhibiting at least one atypical biochemical reaction. CONCLUSION--This study emphasises the need for quality control of media and reagents for multipoint identification of Gram negative enteric bacilli.

Full text

Full text is available as a scanned copy of the original print version. Get a printable copy (PDF file) of the complete article (973K), or click on a page image below to browse page by page. Links to PubMed are also available for Selected References.
 
icon of scanned page 637
637
icon of scanned page 638
638
icon of scanned page 639
639
icon of scanned page 640
640
icon of scanned page 641
641
 

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
  • Pease AA, Wheat PF, Harris DM. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing and biochemical identification using multipoint inoculation: 5 years' experience. Med Lab Sci. 1988 Jan;45(1):28–33. [Abstract] [Google Scholar]
  • Chadwick P, Delisle GJ, Byer M. Biochemical identification of hospital enterobacteria by replica agar plating. Can J Microbiol. 1974 Dec;20(12):1653–1664. [Abstract] [Google Scholar]
  • Clayton P, Feltham RK, Mitchell CJ, Sneath PH. Constructing a database for low cost identification of gram negative rods in clinical laboratories. J Clin Pathol. 1986 Jul;39(7):798–802. [Europe PMC free article] [Abstract] [Google Scholar]
  • Wheat PF, Pease AA. Identification of Enterobacteriaceae: report of the British Society for Multipoint Technology collaborative study. Med Lab Sci. 1989 Jul;46(3):179–185. [Abstract] [Google Scholar]
  • Maccani JE. Aerobically incubated medium for decarboxylase testing of Enterobacteriaceae by replica-plating methods. J Clin Microbiol. 1979 Dec;10(6):940–942. [Europe PMC free article] [Abstract] [Google Scholar]
  • MØLLER V. Simplified tests for some amino acid decarboxylases and for the arginine dihydrolase system. Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand. 1955;36(2):158–172. [Abstract] [Google Scholar]
  • Pease AA. Biochemical identification of the enterobacteriaciae using a multipoint inoculation system. Med Lab Sci. 1983 Oct;40(4):349–353. [Abstract] [Google Scholar]
  • Limb DI, Wheat PF. Evaluation of a commercial automated system for the identification of gram-negative enteric bacilli. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 1991 Sep;10(9):749–752. [Abstract] [Google Scholar]
  • Christensen WB. Urea Decomposition as a Means of Differentiating Proteus and Paracolon Cultures from Each Other and from Salmonella and Shigella Types. J Bacteriol. 1946 Oct;52(4):461–466. [Europe PMC free article] [Abstract] [Google Scholar]
  • Rustigian R, Stuart CA. The Biochemical and Serological Relationships of the Organisms of the Genus Proteus. J Bacteriol. 1945 May;49(5):419–436. [Europe PMC free article] [Abstract] [Google Scholar]
Articles from Journal of Clinical Pathology are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

Full text links 

Read article at publisher's site: https://doi.org/10.1136/jcp.46.7.637

Read article for free, from open access legal sources, via Unpaywall: https://jcp.bmj.com/content/jclinpath/46/7/637.full.pdfUnpaywall

Citations & impact 

Impact metrics

3
Citations
Jump to Citations

Citations of article over time

Alternative metrics

Altmetric item for https://www.altmetric.com/details/21605498
Altmetric
Discover the attention surrounding your research
https://www.altmetric.com/details/21605498

Smart citations by scite.ai
Smart citations by scite.ai include citation statements extracted from the full text of the citing article. The number of the statements may be higher than the number of citations provided by EuropePMC if one paper cites another multiple times or lower if scite has not yet processed some of the citing articles.
Explore citation contexts and check if this article has been supported or disputed.
https://scite.ai/reports/10.1136/jcp.46.7.637

Supporting
Mentioning
Contrasting
0
2
0

Article citations

Similar Articles 

To arrive at the top five similar articles we use a word-weighted algorithm to compare words from the Title and Abstract of each citation.