Author: Glossary

Common name for a mixture of diamino-methylacridinium chloride hydrochloride and diaminoacridine dihydrochloride, an antiseptic effective in the presence of serum and for this reason used in the treatment of bums. A dye used as an antiseptic on skin and mucous membranes and to disinfect contaminated wounds. It may cause sensitivity of the skin to sunlight.…

Species associated with whooping cough, and formerly in the genus Bordetella. Primary isolation best on Bordet – Gengou or similar media, pearly colonies. 0/F test negative, no growth on MacConkey or KCN, but urease positive.  

Species associated with the infection glanders in horses. No growth in MacConkey, negative 0/F test, but reduces nitrate. Bacilli in exudate may show beading or bipolar staining. Infection transferable to man, thus the organism is a distinct laboratory hazard. Complement fixation and agglutination reactions aid diagnosis  

Species associated with conjunctivitis, formerly in the genus Moraxella. Grows on MacConkey’s agar but 0/F, nitrate, urease and KCN tests all negative.  

Acinetobacter species connected with the gastro-intestinal and urinary tracts. No reduction of nitrates, 0/F test oxidative, grows in KCN and on MacConkey’s agar. Formerly in the Achromobacter genus.  

Genus of non-motile, aerobic Gram-negative rods, no pigment, catalase positive, oxidase negative, oxidative or negative 0/F test. The genus was created to accept certain similar species previously in the Achromobacter, Alcaligenes Bordetella and Moraxella genera. A genus of gram-negative, aerobic coccobacilli that is an increasingly important cause of serious infections, especially in hospitalized patients.  …

Organisms with the ability to resist decolorization by mineral acids after application of specific stains. This property appears to be due to the presence in the organism of mycolic acid, together with a semipermeable membrane allowing passage of the stain but not of the decolorizing acid. An organism that has special staining characteristics; one such…

Egg – glycerol medium with magnesium sulphate and potassium dihydrogen phosphate (high level), plus weak malachite green. The inspissated medium matches in amount and acidity the inoculation of 0.2 ml of sputum homogenate representing some 2.6 per cent NaOH.  

Family within the Eubacteriales, consisting of small motile and non-motile Gram-negative rods, usually saprophytes of water, soil and milk, but some pathogens occur. May or may not form pigment. Sugars usually oxidized rather than fermented. Includes the genera Alcaligenes, Achromobacter and Flavobacterium.  

Genus within the Achromobacteriaceae family, non-motile, non-pigmented, oxidase-positive rods. Formerly included some species now in Acinetobacter and Alcaligenes genera. A genus of gram-negative bacilli that may inhabit the lower gastrointestinal tract; may cause nosocomial infections.