ABSTRACT
A total of 61 isolates of dematiaceous fungi, including Exophiala jeanselmei, Wangiella dermatitidis, Fonsecaea pedrosoi, Phialophora verrucosa, and a few isolates of related organisms were evaluated for their ability to assimilate 13 carbohydrates and sodium nitrate. Results indicated that patterns of assimilations can facilitate specific identifications when used with microscopic morphologic features. Eleven isolates of W. dermatitidis demonstrated negative results for nitrate assimilation, although most of the other fungi tested had positive reactions. The tests did aid in separating this very complex group of fungi.
Subject(s)
Carbohydrate Metabolism , Exophiala/classification , Mitosporic Fungi/classification , Nitrates/metabolism , Phialophora/classification , Cladosporium/classification , Cladosporium/metabolism , Exophiala/metabolism , Mitosporic Fungi/metabolism , Phialophora/metabolismABSTRACT
A total of 199 Mycobacterium tuberculosis, 182 M. kansasii, and 32 M. avium complex isolates were tested for susceptibility to either three or 10 color-coded drugs in a four-phase study using the conventional 7H10 plate method and the BACTEC system. Agreement between the two test systems for M. tuberculosis isolates against isoniazid, ethambutol, and rifampin was 96%; it was 93.6% against all 10 drugs. Disagreement was highest for ethionamide and cycloserine. M. kansasii data were encouraging, with 88.9% drug agreement against 10 drugs, but M. avium complex agreement was only 51.6% against 10. Average time required for reportable results was 4.8 days for M. tuberculosis, 4.3 days for M. kansasii, and 3.4 days for M. avium complex. Growth for 3 days in an enrichment medium yielded suspensions of the organisms in a logarithmic growth phase and reduced problems of clumps of cells in inocula.
