Hydrogen sulphide production by bacteria

SUMMARY: Hydrogen sulphide production by growing cultures and non-multi-plying suspensions was compared and the factors influencing the sensitivity of the tests were investigated. Cysteine hydrochloride (0.01 yo) was added to Lemco broth to provide a medium with a standard source of sulphur. H,S was detected with lead acetate papers more readily than by lead acetate agar. Suspensions were tested with cysteine, sodium thiosulphate and sodium sulphite; the organisms investigated were mainly Bacteriaceae and seldom failed to produce H,S from cysteine; sodium thiosulphate was less readily attacked; sodium sulphite was unsuitable for this technique. Media commonly used for testing the capacity of bacteria to produce H,S are reviewed and the value of this test in bacterial classifica-tion discussed. Hydrogen sulphide was one of the earliest products of bacterial decomposition to be recognized. Orlowski (1895) described H2S production by the typhoi