A method for determining the presence of a microorganism in a sample using an electrochemically active reporter, wherein the method comprises (a) contacting the sample with an electrochemically active reporter, wherein the electrochemically active reporter is a conjugate comprising a sugar moiety and a redox active reporter moiety that are covalently linked such that the covalent bond can be enzymatically cleaved in the presence of the microorganism by an enzyme expressed by the microorganism, wherein the redox active reporter moiety is selected from the group consisting of compounds of formula and resorufin wherein A is an aryl or heteroaryl ring of formula or: each of R 1, R 2, R 3, and R 6 is independently selected from the group consisting of H, NR 7 R 8, C 1-3 alkyl, OR 7; each of R 4 and R 5 is H; X is N or S +; R 7 and R 8 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, C -R 9, C 1-3 alkyl; R 9 is C 1-3 alkyl, at least one of R 1 and R 2 is -OH; under conditions that allow enzymatic cleavage of the covalent bond between the sugar moiety and the redox active reporter moiety and reduction of the redox active reporter moiety by the microorganism; (b) electrochemically determining the released redox active reporter moiety, wherein the released redox active reporter moiety is oxidized by interaction with a working electrode, and wherein the oxidized released redox active reporter is reduced by the microorganism and recycled for the generation of an electrical current or voltage; and (c) determining the presence of the microorganism, wherein the microorganism is Escherichia coli. (a) contacting the sample with an electrochemically active reporter, wherein the electrochemically active reporter is a conjugate comprising a sugar moiety and a redox active reporter moiety that are covalently linked such that the covalent bond can be enzymatically cleaved in the presence of the microorganism by an enzyme expressed by the microorganism, wherein the redox active reporter moiety is selected from the group consisting of compounds of formula and resorufin wherein A is an aryl or heteroaryl ring of formula or: each of R 1, R 2, R 3, and R 6 is independently selected from the group consisting of H, NR 7 R 8, C 1-3 alkyl, OR 7; each of R 4 and R 5 is H; X is N or S +; R 7 and R 8 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, C -R 9, C 1-3 alkyl; R 9 is C 1-3 alkyl, at least one of R 1 and R 2 is -OH; under conditions that allow enzymatic cleavage of the covalent bond between the sugar moiety and the redox active reporter moiety and reduction of the redox active reporter moiety by the microorganism; wherein A is an aryl or heteroaryl ring of formula or: each of R 1, R 2, R 3, and R 6 is independently selected from the group consisting of H, NR 7 R 8, C 1-3 alkyl, OR 7; each of R 4 and R 5 is H; X is N or S +; R 7 and R 8 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, C -R 9, C 1-3 alkyl; R 9 is C 1-3 alkyl, at least one of R 1 and R 2 is -OH; under conditions that allow enzymatic cleavage of the covalent bond between the sugar moiety and the redox active reporter moiety and reduction of the redox active reporter moiety by the microorganism; (b) electrochemically determining the released redox active reporter moiety, wherein the released redox active reporter moiety is oxidized by interaction with a working electrode, and wherein the oxidized released redox active reporter is reduced by the microorganism and recycled for the generation of an electrical current or voltage; and (c) determining the presence of the microorganism,