Continuous opacity monitoring of the growth of bacteria under strict anaerobic conditions

Continuous monitoring of oxygen concentrations in several systems for cultivation of anaerobic bacteria

Anaerobic chambers and jars are the two conventional methods used in clinical microbiology laboratories to produce an anaerobic atmosphere. The evacuation-replacement method, the Oxoid AnaeroGen, the Merck Anaerocult A, the BBL GasPak, the BBL GasPakPlus, the Adams Scientific GasGendicator, the Difco Anaerobic, and the bioMérieux Generbox anaer systems were compared for the timed decrease in the oxygen concentration in an anaerobic jar. The experiment was repeated 10 times for each system. The oxygen concentration was measured with an oxygen analyzer series 3600 instrument (Orbisphere Laboratories, Neuchâtel-Geneva Switzerland). The BBL GasPak, the BBL GasPakPlus, the bioMérieux Generbox, the Adams Scientific GasGendicator, and the Difco Anaerobic systems contain sodium borohydride, which liberates hydrogen. The Anaerocult A system contains iron powder which binds the oxygen. The active ingredient of the AnaeroGen system is ascorbic acid. The times to reach an O2 concentration of 0.5% were 8 to 15 min for the evacuation-replacement method, 26 to 41 min for the AnaeroGen system, 60 to 93 min for the Anaerocult A system, and 22 to 419 min for the sodium borohydride systems. The AnaeroGen system, the Anaerocult A system, and the evacuation-replacement method never failed to produce an anaerobic atmosphere. The sodium borohydride systems failed in 10 of 70 runs. These results suggest that the evacuation-replacement method or the Oxoid AnaeroGen system should be used to produce an anaerobic atmosphere. The Anaerocult A system showed a good reproducibility, but the length of time required to reach an appropriately low level of oxygen was too long. Because of the high failure rate, the borohydride systems cannot be recommended.

Effect of growth conditions and storage on the specific activity of beta-lactamases of Bacteroides spp

The influences of growth conditions and cold storage on the specific activity of beta-lactamases of four strains of Bacteroides spp. was studied. Interbatch variation was observed in extracts prepared in an identical way on separate occasions but less variation was observed in extracts prepared from bacteria grown on Brain Heart Infusion agar supplemented with yeast extract, haemin and menadione, than in similar extracts of bacteria grown in broth or on other solid media. The loss of enzyme activity seen during the stationary phase of growth of some strains in broth was minimal during incubation for 48 h on agar. Storage of enzyme extracts at 4 degrees C was associated with loss of enzyme activity, but activity was retained during storage at -70 degrees C for up to 32 days. Freezing and thawing had little effect on enzyme activity.

A micro-chamber for continuous microscopic monitoring of anaerobic bacteria

A recently developed apparatus is described that allows continuous microscopic monitoring of bacteria grown in anaerobic conditions. Four species of Bacteroides were tested using this equipment and normal and reproducible growth rates were obtained in all cases.