Bacteria identification and antimicrobial susceptibility test

Abstract

The present invention provides compositions, methods and kits for bacteria identification and anti-microbial susceptibility testing for the treatment of, for example, acute and chronic infections including infectious disease. The present invention is particularly useful in the identification of bacteria causing mastitis, and to antibiotic susceptibility testing to facilitate in the identification of an appropriate treatment for mastitis.

1 .- 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A method for identifying the presence of a Group D Streptococci in a human or non-human animal sample, wherein the human or non-human animal may be infected by, or at risk to infection by, Group D Streptococci, the method comprising:
 (i) providing a reaction mix comprising biological sample obtained from a human or non-human animal and identification media comprising esculin, ferric citrate and a stabilizing agent; and   (ii) identifying if Group D Streptococci are present in the sample,   wherein, the esculin and ferric citrate is present in the reaction mix in an amount sufficient to inhibit growth of the Group D Streptococci if not for the presence of a stabilizing agent   and wherein, identification of Group D Streptococci in the sample is confirmed by blackening of the reaction mix,   where identification of Group D Streptococci in the sample indicates that the human or non-human animal is infected by, or at risk to infection by, the Group D Streptococci.   
     
     
         16 . A method for identifying coagulase positive Staphylococci in a human or non-human animal, wherein the human or non-human animal may be infected by, or at risk to infection by, coagulase positive Staphylococci, the method comprising:
 (i) providing a reaction mix comprising a biological sample obtained from a human or non-human animal and identification media comprising tellurite and a stabilizing agent; and   (ii) identifying if coagulase positive Staphylococci is present in the sample,   wherein, the tellurite is present in the reaction mix in an amount sufficient to inhibit growth of the coagulase positive Staphylococci if not for the presence of the stabilizing agent   and wherein, identification of coagulase positive Staphylococci in the sample is confirmed by the appearance of a black sediment in the reaction mix,   where identification of coagulase positive Staphylococci in the sample indicates that the human or non-human animal is infected by, or at risk to infection by, coagulase positive Staphylococci.   
     
     
         17 . A method for identifying coagulase negative Staphylococci in a human or a non-human animal, wherein the human or non-human animal is infected by, or is at risk of infection by, coagulase negative Staphylococci, the method comprising;
 (i) establishing that coagulase positive Staphylococci are not present in the sample according to the method of  claim 16 ;   (ii) providing a reaction mix comprising a biological sample obtained from the same human or non-human animal with an identification media comprising high salt concentration, a carbohydrate source and a colour based pH indicator; and   (iii) identifying if coagulase negative Staphylococci are present in the sample,   and wherein, the pH indicator in the reaction mix is present in an amount sufficient to inhibit growth of the coagulase negative Staphylococci if not for the presence of the stabilizing agent,   and wherein, the carbohydrate source in the reaction mix is selected from one or more of the group consisting of glucose fructose, maltose, sucrose, glycerol, galactose, mannose and lactose,   and wherein, identification of coagulase negative Staphylococci is confirmed by a colour change in the second reaction mix caused by a change in pH,   where identification of coagulase negative Staphylococci in the sample indicates that the human or non-human animal is infected by, or at risk to infection by, coagulase negative Staphylococci.   
     
     
         18 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A test kit for performing an antimicrobial susceptibility test on a biological sample obtained from a human or a non-human animal, wherein the human or non-human animal may be infected by, or at risk of infection by, one or more infection causing bacteria, the test kit comprising:
 (i) a bacteria growth media;   (ii) a colour based pH indicator;   (iii) a stabilizing agent comprising a milk derived protein or milk-derived protein extract;   (iv) an antimicrobial agent; and   (v) optionally instructions for performing the antimicrobial susceptibility test on the biological sample,   wherein the colour based pH indicator is present at greater than or equal to 0.0035% when the components of the test kit are combined with the biological sample.