Question

Can you use ringer solution instead of nutrient broth for susceptibility for the optochin test for streptococcus?

Answer 1

Optochin (ethylhydrocupreine hydrochloride) is a chemical which is toxic to some bacteria but not detrimental to others type.

This is used for the detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae, the alpha-hemolytic Streptococcus usually vulnerable to this chemical.

Furthermore this test is performed for the determination of whether the bacterium is either susceptible to optochin or resistant to it.

In detail the susceptibility to optochin is determined by placing an optochin-impregnated disk on a nutrient agar plate seeded along the microbe under examination.

At the time course the microbes multiply during incubation in the form of lawn of visual growth, the cells are exposed to the chemical diffusing into the agar from the paper disk.

Moreover if the bacteria are susceptible to optochin, it will be observed by the generation of a visible zone of inhibition around the disk. This zone of inhibition represents an area where the chemical concentration has prohibited bacterial growth.

In this we can also use nutrient broth for susceptibility for the optochin test for streptococcus.

Yes ringer,s solution with proper dilution along with addition of white egg matter and other organic matter can be used alternatively for the same culture growth.