Method and medium for detecting vancomycin-resistant enterococcus
AssigneeIDEXX Laboratories, Inc.
InventorsChung-Ming Chen, Stephen C. Edberg
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A microbe-specific medium for detection of vancomycin-resistant Enterococci in a test sample within 24 hours and preferably within 18 hours. The testing medium provides a selective growth medium for vancomycin-resistant Enterococci and includes specific nutrient indicators which only the target microbe can significantly metabolize and use for growth. The nutrient indicator contain a nutrient moiety and a detectable moiety linked together by a covalent bond. The nutrient indicators produce detectable signals only if the nutrient indicators are hydrolyzed by the Enterococci specific enzymes including β-glucosidase and pyrrolidonyl arylamidase.
Claims15
A medium for detecting vancomycin-resistant Enterococci in a sample from a rectal swab, peri-rectal swab, or stool sample, comprising:
- vancomycin in an amount sufficient to suppress the growth of vancomycin sensitive Enterococci;
- a first nutrient indicator which is a substrate for a first bacterial enzyme and provides first detectable signal when cleaved by the first bacterial enzyme;
- a second nutrient indicator which is a substrate for a second bacterial enzyme and provides a second detectable signal when cleaved by the second bacterial enzyme, wherein the second detectable signal is distinct from the first detectable signal;
- an effective amount of one or more selective agents active to prevent or inhibit the growth of microorganisms other than Enterococci.
A medium for detecting vancomycin-resistant Enterococci comprising vancomycin in an amount sufficient to suppress the growth of vancomycin sensitive Enterococci;
- a first nutrient indicator which is a substrate for a first bacterial enzyme and provides a first detectable signal when cleaved by the first bacterial enzyme;
- a second nutrient indicator which is a substrate for a second bacterial enzyme and provides a second detectable signal when cleaved by the second bacterial enzyme, wherein the second detectable signal is distinct from the first detectable signal;
- an effective amount of one or more selective agents active to prevent or inhibit the growth of microorganisms other than Enterococci.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.