In vitro study of bacterial degradation of ethyl glucuronide and ethyl sulphate.

Recent studies show that ethyl glucuronide (EtG) can be decomposed by bacteria; whilst so far no degradation of ethyl sulphate (EtS) has been observed. In the present study, in vitro experiments with bacterial colonies were performed. Bacteria (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Clostridium sordellii) were isolated from autopsy material (liver, heart blood, urine, ascites, pericardial fluid, pleural fluid) tested for beta-glucuronidase activity, and three bacterial strains were added to nutrient-deficient medium containing EtG and/or EtS and incubated at 36 +/- 1 degrees C.