Methods for detecting and characterizing microorganisms

A method for detecting bacteria in a sample comprising:

• a) contacting a test sample with one or more fluorescence-emitting substrates selected from the group consisting of metabolic, proteolytic, glycosidic, and lipophylic substrates, under conditions suitable for the one or more substrates to be acted upon by bacterial enzymes present in the test sample that are specific for the one or more substrates;
• b) detecting an activity over time of fluorescence emissions from one or more of the substrates that result from the contacting with the test sample;
• and
• c) correlating the activities with a bacterial type present in the test sample.

A detection device, comprising:

• a light source for illuminating a sample;
• an optical filter;
• a sample compartment comprising a reaction cell and a fluorescence intensifier;
• and a fluorescence collection device adapted for connection to a fluorescence detector, wherein the optical filter is interposed between the light source and the sample compartment, and wherein the fluorescence intensifier is interposed between the reaction cell and the fluorescence collection device.