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Reliability of the colistin disk test in identification ofSerratia marcescens andSerratia liquefaciens

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Abstract

Resistance to polymycin B or E (colistin) in the disk test, which is used as a means of identification, was tested in 43 strains of Serratia marcescens and 26 of Serratia liquefaciens.While all strains had MIC values > 32 mg/l for colistin, false susceptibility to both polymyxins was encountered in the 24 h disk test in 9 % of Serratia marcescens and 12–96% of Serratia liquefaciens strains, depending on the kind of polymyxin, temperature and duration of incubation. Using colistin disks and incubation at 25 °C for 48 h, the percentage of false susceptible results could be minimized.

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von Graevenitz, A., Zollinger-Iten, J. Reliability of the colistin disk test in identification ofSerratia marcescens andSerratia liquefaciens . Eur. J, Clin. Microbiol. 6, 70–71 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02097199

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