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

• Published in: International journal of legal medicine 2008-09, Vol.122 (5), p.389-393
• Main Authors: Baranowski, Stefanie, Serr, Annerose, Thierauf, Annette, Weinmann, Wolfgang, Groβe Perdekamp, Markus, Wurst, Friedrich M., Halter, Claudia C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bacteria - metabolism; Biotransformation; Clostridium sordellii; Escherichia coli; Forensic Medicine; Glucuronates - metabolism; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Klebsiella pneumoniae; Medical Law; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Original Article; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization; Sulfuric Acid Esters - metabolism; Time Factors
• ISSN: 0937-9827; 1437-1596
• DOI: 10.1007/s00414-008-0229-3

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 β-glucuronidase activity, and three bacterial strains were added to nutrient-deficient medium containing EtG and/or EtS and incubated at 36 ± 1°C. Samples were taken after various intervals up to 11 days, and EtG and EtS were determined by electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS). EtG was degraded by E. coli and C. sordellii —complete degradation occurred in the range of 3–4 days—and these bacteria exhibited β -glucuronidase activity. EtS was not affected within 11 days of incubation.