[Simplified diagnostic scheme for Enterobacteriaceae].

After testing 18 experimental variants against 40 reference strains belonging to different Enterovacteriaceae groups, the authors chose a multitest medium that permits concomitant testing of mobility, indol, lysinedecarboxylase and phenylalanine deaminase (MILP). In this medium, the reactions of 3734 strains belonging to the genera Escherichia, Shigella. Salmonella, Citrobacter, Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Serratia. Proteus and Providencia were concordant with the reactions in individual test media, taking as reference, in a proportion of 99.7 and 100%. The authors, associating the MILP medium to TSI agar, propose a simple scheme consisting of eight test which permits, within only 24 hours, the correct identification of the genus and sometimes of the species of cultures or isolated colonies from selective media.