Achromobacter species (CDC group Vd): morphological and biochemical characterization

Abstract

Twenty-three isolates of Achromobacter species (CDC group Vd) were examined morphologically and biochemically. Gram stains revealed gram-variable bacilli frequently curved or hooked at one pole and often coryneform in shape and arrangement. Electron microscopy revealed the presence of extracellular material in polar accumulations and demonstrated the polar flagella arrangement seen by light microscopy to be lateral. Two colony types were produced; one was minute and watery at 24 h (35 degrees C) progressing to large, mucoid colonies at 48 h, and the other type was shiny, glistening, opaque but nonmucoid. All isolates grew on MacConkey agar and produced catalase, oxidase, and urease. Most grew on salmonella-shigella agar, reduced nitrate to nitrite and gas, hydrolyzed esculin, deaminated phenylalanine (2 to 4 days) and produced H2S in triple sugar iron agar (4 to 12 days). Oxidation of carbohydrates was weak, delayed, and limited to glucose and xylose. Two isolates also oxidized maltose, mannitol, and sucrose. The ability of miniaturized "nonfermenter" kits to identify Achromobacter species was tested. The Minitek (Baltimore Biological Laboratory, Cockeysville, Md.) and N/F (Corning, Roslyn, N.Y.) systems, respectively, identified 21 and 19 of the 23 isolates, whereas the Oxi/Ferm (Roche, Nutley, N.J.) identified 13 and the API 20E (Analytab Products, Plainview, N.Y.) identified only 3.