Klebsiella, Enterobacter, and Serratia Flashcards
What important biochemical characteristic do Klebsiella, Enterobacter, and Serratia share?
What other bacteria shares this?
How is this demonstrated?
They are Lactose+
Eosine-methylen-blue-medium (EM) or MacConkey Agar are used to test this
E. Coli is also lactose +
EMB medium:
Plates contain:
- solid culture medium
- lactose
- eosine and methylene-blue dyes
- detergent to inhibit swarming
Reading the results:
- If lactose is degraded colonies of bacteria turn to purple
- If lactose is not degraded colonies of bacteria remain colourless
MacConkey Agar:
Crystal violet and bile salts inhibit gram-positives, selects for gram negatives
Indicates lactose fermentation by turning pink.
Pics: macConkey agar LF+ and LF- colonies, and Klebsiella on MacConkey Agar, large mucous-like pink colonies
What is the sputum like in a Klebsiella pneumonia infection?
What is the distinguishing biochemical characteristic between it and Serratia/Enterobacter?
“Red Curant Jelly”
It is urease positive
What are the “three A’s of klebsiella”
Aspiration by Alcoholics and Abscesses.
