[Utility of the L-alanine-aminopeptidase test for differentiating the cell wall structure of bacteria].

Evaluation of a detection test for L-alanine-aminopeptidase enzyme (Bactident Aminopeptidase) for determining the structure of bacterial cell wall. In a total of 246 clinical isolates of aerobic, microaerophilic and anaerobic bacteria, we detect the presence or absence of L-alanine-aminopeptidase using commercial kits (Bactident Aminopeptidase, Merck Diagnostica). We also identify and further classified the 246 strains. In nearly all gram-negative bacteria L-alanine-aminopeptidase was found, with the exception of Campylobacter spp and gram-negative anaerobic bacilli. All gram-positive and gram-variable bacteria were negative for the L-alanine-aminopeptidase presence. The results suggest a good correlation between the presence or absence of L-alanine-aminopeptidase and Gram stain method.