Detection of bacteria in the presence of antibiotics by using specific monoclonal antibodies to neutralize the antibiotics

Abstract

Inactivation of penicillin and gentamicin in cultures was achieved by using monoclonal antibodies against these antibiotics. A viridans group streptococcus (penicillin MIC, ≤0.06 μg/ml) and Escherichia coli ATCC 35218 (gentamicin MIC, ≤1 μg/ml) were able to grow in broth containing 0.25 μg of penicillin per ml and 4 μg of gentamicin per ml, respectively, when the specific antibodies were added. This procedure may be useful to increase the yield of bacteria from body fluid specimens that contain antibiotics.