A Methylene Blue Assisted Electrochemical Sensor for Determination of Drug Resistance of Escherichia coli

Abstract

Due to the abuse of antibiotics in clinical, animal husbandry, and aquaculture, drug-resistant pathogens are produced, which poses a great threat to human and the public health. At present, a rapid and effective drug sensitivity test method is urgently needed to effectively control the spread of drug-resistant bacteria. Using methylene blue as a redox probe, the electrochemical signals of methylene blue in drug-resistant Escherichia coli strains were analyzed by a CV method. Graphene ink has been used for enhancing the electrochemical signal. Compared with the results of the traditional drug sensitivity test, we proposed a rapid electrochemical drug sensitivity test method which can effectively identify the drug sensitivity of Escherichia coli. The sensitivity of four E. coli isolates to ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, and ampicillin was tested by an electrochemical drug sensitivity test. The respiratory activity value %RA was used as an indicator of bacterial resistance by electrochemical method.