[Method for demonstrating strict anaerobes in microbial associations].

Abstract

A procedure for indicating strict anaerobes in microbial associations was developed. The indication is performed with two disks: aminoglycoside (amikacin, 10-micrograms disk) (A) and metronidazole aminoglycoside (metronidazole + amikacin, 5- and 10-micrograms disks respectively) (MA). Colonies growing in zone A and absent in zone MA are considered to be strictly anaerobic. The procedure is characterized by high reliability: false positive results are practically not recorded and the frequency of false negative results does not exceed 5-10 per cent. The rate of detecting anaerobes in clinical materials is significantly increased (by 1-3 days) as compared to that with the use of the routine bacterial methods. The indication procedure markedly simplifies laboratory diagnosis of anaerobic infections at the account of clear differentiation of microorganisms grown on the primary plate and possible directed selection of anaerobic colonies for further investigation which excludes the necessity of rejecting or studying other colony types. This leads to economy of nutrient media and increasing labor productivity.