Evaluation of a rapid method to exclude the presence of certain enteric pathogens in stool specimens

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Abstract
A new commercial method intended to exclude the presence of Salmonella spp., and Yersinia enterocolitica and to presumptively identify Salmonella isolates within 2 h after primary isolation from stool specimens was evaluated. This system is marketed in Europe as API Z and in the USA as Rapid SST. The strip consists of 5 pairs of cupules for the screening of 5 lactose-negative colonies. The first cupule of each pair detects the presence of 5 enzymatic activities; the second serves to maintain the strain for additional testing if necessary. A total of 197 fresh isolates from stool specimens and 217 stock cultures of Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., and Y. enterocolitica were tested, with the API 20E system as a reference method. In the stool specimens, 77.3% of the bacteria could be excluded from further workup for the presence of these organisms within 2 h. Over 97% of the stock strains and each of 3 fresh Salmonella isolates tested produced a reaction pattern corresponding to a correct presumptive identification. This reaction pattern was not produced by any isolate other than the Salmonella isolates. The API Z system can be used as a screen for the presence of Salmonella and Shigella spp. and can provide an accurate presumptive identification of Salmonella isolates within 2 h after primary isolation.

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