What is it about?
The string test detects Klebsiella pneumoniae (hypervirulent K. pneumoniae), a highly pathogenic bacteria. This test checks if K. pneumoniae forms a string on an agar plate. We don't know how the agar plate type affects the results. This paper looks at how well different agar media can detect hypervirulent K. pneumoniae using the string test. We tested Klebsiella strains with four types of agar media.
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Why is it important?
More and more places are reporting dangerous Klebsiella pneumoniae. We need to keep an eye on this in different areas. There is no standard way to identify this bacterium. While there are some ways to detect it, they are often expensive and difficult to use. The string test is a low-cost and quick way to screen for the bacteria, but it isn't always accurate. This research improves the string test, which is useful for detecting hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae. Better screening methods help us monitor and control this dangerous pathogen.
Perspectives
We tested 99 Klebsiella strains on four types of agar. Some agar types were more accurate. Sheep blood agar was the most accurate. Changing the cutoff value from 5 mm to 10 mm greatly affected the results, reducing the accuracy to 0.65 for sheep blood agar. Agar affects string test results. Sheep blood agar with a 5 mm cutoff is best for detecting hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae.
Dr Naoki Watanabe
Kameda Medical Center
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Evaluation of an optimal agar medium for detecting hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae using string test, Access Microbiology, September 2024, Society for General Microbiology,
DOI: 10.1099/acmi.0.000834.v3.
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