CARBOHYDRATE CONTAINING MEDIA FOR DETECTION OF UREASE IN KLEBSIELLA

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  • 1 January 1975
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. B126  (2) , 201-208
Abstract
Some strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae and K. oxytoca grown on nutrient agar may appear urease negative in a Ferguson type reagent medium after a 24 h incubation at 37.degree. C. Of 147 urease negative strains, urease was detected within a few hours in 79 strains when bacteria were grown on media containing carbohydrates (Kligler iron agar, Drigalski lactose agar, SS agar and Worfel-Ferguson sucrose medium). Acid production by carbohydrate fermentation increases urease production by Klebsiella; pH 4 is the best pH for urease synthesis by these bacteria. The other 68 strains were considered urease-less Klebsiella. The best [diagnostic] results are obtained from culture on Worfel-Ferguson sucrose medium; urea hydrolysis is usually positive after 11/2 h in a Ferguson type reagent medium, and after 2 h 35 min in a Christensen reagent medium.