Evaluation of the ATB system and the 32 GN tests for the identification and determination of the antibiotic sensitivity of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus var. anitratum. Comparison with the reference dilution method in a gel medium

: The authors determined the susceptibility to 24 antibiotics of 95 strains of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus variety anitratum with the automated API ATB System in comparison with the agar dilution method for MIC measurement. The strains have been identified with API 32 GN (automated system) and API NE. There was a good agreement between the two sets of identification results. In susceptibility tests the discrepancies ranged from 0.86% to 3% with a mean value of 1.8%. The overall agreement was 95% between the two methods. This study allowed the authors to define susceptibility phenotypes to the three major antibiotic classes: beta-lactams, aminoglycosides and quinolones. The use of 32 GN tests and ATB in the automated system seems very useful, especially in epidemiologic studies in order to analyse numerous data in a short time.