COMPARISON OF THE ETEST WITH AGAR DILUTION FOR ANTIMICROBIAL SUSCEPTIBILITY TESTING OF HAEMOPHILUS-DUCREYI

Two methods for determining the sensitivity of Haemophilus ducreyi to antimicrobial agents were compared; an agar dilution method and the Et est. The MICs of seven antimicrobial agents; penicillin V, ampicillin, trimethoprim, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, erythromycin and ciprofl oxacin were determined for 20 strains of H. ducreyi. The MICs determin ed with the Etest and with the agar dilution method, showed 86% agreem ent within one two-fold dilution. The Etest is a good alternative meth od to the agar dilution technique for antimicrobial susceptibility tes ting of H. ducreyi. Owing to its simplicity and good reproducibility, the test is well suited for routine use in clinical microbiology labor atories in developing countries.