초록 ▼

A catalase method and apparatus are disclosed for direct measurement of bacterial growth activity in the presence and absence of antibiotics, and for the determination of antibiotic sensitivity directly from clinical specimens within one and one-half to four or five hours if the agent is a catalase

A catalase method and apparatus are disclosed for direct measurement of bacterial growth activity in the presence and absence of antibiotics, and for the determination of antibiotic sensitivity directly from clinical specimens within one and one-half to four or five hours if the agent is a catalase producer. If not, antibiotic sensitivity is measured by light obscuration. The total bacterial counts of normal flora and artifacts in the growth medium do not affect the tests. Preferably, a transducer or other pressure-measuring technique determines the positive pressure produced by the catalytic decomposition of peroxide. Aerosolization of pathogenic organisms is avoided by combining hydrogen peroxide with a quaternary compound which kills the bacteria and at the same time frees additional catalase to yield total catalase titers which are very reproducible and accurate. The method and apparatus easily detect Staphylococcus, Pseudomonas, Proteus, E. coli, and other catalase-producing bacteria. The method and apparatus can be used to determine bacterial growth activity in many liquids for example, cutting oils, water used for drinking, pharmaceuticals, swimming pools, cooling towers and for other purposes as well as with body fluids both qualitatively and quantitatively.

대표청구항 ▼

A process for measuring bacterial growth activity by catalase reaction, comprising: contacting in a closed cell a culture medium inoculated with body fluid containing a pathogenic organism with hydrogen peroxide, and a quaternary compound in amounts to provide from about 0.1% to about 2.25% by weigh

A process for measuring bacterial growth activity by catalase reaction, comprising: contacting in a closed cell a culture medium inoculated with body fluid containing a pathogenic organism with hydrogen peroxide, and a quaternary compound in amounts to provide from about 0.1% to about 2.25% by weight hydrogen peroxide and from about 0.1% to about 9.0% by weight quaternary compound in a catalase reaction product, the culture medium, hydrogen peroxide and quaternary compound being present in the closed cell in an amount of about 70% to about 90% of the volume thereof, holding the culture medium, hydrogen peroxide quaternary compound for a period of time sufficient to permit the catalase reaction, agitating the catalase reaction product in the closed cell thereby forcing O2 released by the catalase reaction from the aqueous phase, and then measuring pressure resulting from the released O2 as an indication of bacterial growth activity.