DETERMINATION WHETHER KETONURINE HAS BACTERICIDAL ACTION

Abstract

In a previous paper we reported, from chemical and bacteriologic data, that a minimal standard of pH and concentration of beta-hydroxybutyric acid could be set up for a ketonurine, and that if ketonurine met this standard it might be expected that it would prove to be bactericidal. These standards are a pH of 5.5 or less and a concentration of beta-hydroxybutyric acid of 0.5 per cent or greater. If these conditions are fulfilled, the urine is bactericidal to numerous strains of colon bacilli. If this standard is exceeded by a decrease in pH value or an increase in concentration of betahydroxybutyric acid, or both, it may be expected that the bactericidal action will be greater and the urine will be rendered sterile in a shorter length of time. The previous work involved the determination of the pH value of urine by ordinary colorimetric procedures and the determination of beta-hydroxybutyric acid