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Side One: Colorex™ MRSA Colorex™ MRSA is a chromogenic medium for the selective isolation of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The medium can be used for the routine screening of clinical specimens for MRSA from a variety of sampling sites such as the nose, throat and groin. The medium incorporates a nutritious peptone base medium and a number of selective agents to inhibit most Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria as well as yeasts and moulds. The chromogenic detection of specific enzyme activity leads to the formation of pink/mauve colonies indicating MRSA (including low level resistant and hetero-resistant strains) following incubation at 37°C for 18-24 hours. Other organisms, if present are indicated by blue or colourless colonies. Any presumptive isolates must be confirmed using serological and/or biochemical techniques available to the laboratory. The use of this chromogenic medium does not diminish the requirement for conventional antimicrobial susceptibility tests for the confirmation of methicillin resistance. Limitations S.aureus strains that possess a low MIC to the selective agent present in the medium but are mec A negative may form colonies on the medium. Some MRSA strains may form typical colonies surrounded by a matte halo. The formation of the halo serves no diagnostic function. 1. Certain methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) may produce characteristic colonies. In some cases differentiation may be achieved by examination of the colour of these colonies, as they may be considerably darker in colour (bluish purple to a very dark pink/magenta) Certain bacterial species other than staphylococci may produce colonies with a characteristic colour Side Two: Colorex™ VRE Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus/ (VRE) infections are especially aggressive and have been associated with mortality rates approaching 60% to 70%. They are now the second-leading cause of nosocomial infections in the U.S., and their prevalence is increasing worldwide. Resistance to vancomycin has the potential to be transferred from bacteria to bacteria. Cross-resistance is mediated by plasmids and transposons, which may transfer the genes associated with resistance to other much more aggressive pathogens, such as staphylococci and streptococci. Three principal types of vancomycin resistance are found in Enterococcus spp.; VanA, VanB and VanC genotypes. VanA and VanB types account for most significant infections in clinical settings, involving E.faecium and E.faecalis. VanC resistance is a low-level intrinsic resistance found in other Enterococcus spp. The Colorex™ VRE media is another chromogenic media in the Colorex™ range, enabling presumptive identification of vancomycin resistant Enterococci by the formation of mauve/pink coloured colonies (for VanA and VanB genotypes) and blue coloured colonies (for VanC genotypes) after 18-24 hours incubation. -
Side One: Colorex mSuperCARBA™ Colorex mSuperCARBA™ is a selective chromogenic medium that has been developed for the detection and isolation of carbapenemase producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE). Nosocomial infections due to CPE are particularly difficult due to the limited treatment options. Therefore, this medium is designed to simplify the detection of CPE carriers and to allow for improved monitoring of high risk patient groups. The distinctive colonial colouration of the various species can reduce the need for additional follow up testing allowing many positive results to be issued within 24 hours of receipt of the sample. All presumptive positive colonies should be confirmed for carbapenemase production. Typical colour reactions are as follows – Escherichia coli – Red/Pink colonies Klebsiella spp., Enterobacter spp., & Citrobacter spp. – Metallic blue colonies Other CP Gram –ve bacterial species (including Pseudomonas / Acinetobacter) – Colourless colonies Non-CPE Gram-ve bacterial species - Inhibited Gram +ve bacterial species & yeasts – Inhibited Side Two: Colorex C3GR (Opaque) Colorex C3GR is a chromogenic screening medium for the detection of β-Lactamase producing Gram-negative bacteria in clinical specimens. The selectivity of the medium allows for detection of ESBL and/or AmpC producing isolates that exhibit a reduced susceptibility to 3rd generation cephalosporin antibiotics. The chromogenic reactions allow for species differentiation on presumptive positive isolates. Typical colour reactions are as follows – C3GR E.coli – Red colonies C3GR Klebsiella / Enterobacter / Citrobacter – Metallic blue colonies C3GR Proteus – Colonies with brown halo Other C3GR Gram –ve bacterial species (Pseudomonas / Acinetobacter) – Colourless colonies C3G Sensitive Gram –ve bacterial species - Inhibited Gram + bacterial species - Inhibited Yeasts - Inhibited -
Side One: Columbia Agar & Horse Blood - A general purpose medium enriched with 5% Defibrinated Horse Blood, suitable for the isolation of most organisms, including many fastidious anaerobes. Side Two: Bacitracin Chocolate Agar - A highly nutritious medium enriched with Horse Blood, where the blood has been ‘chocolated’ by heating the medium to 60°C. The addition of the selective agent, Bacitracin, makes this medium particularly suitable for the selective isolation of Haemophilus spp. -
Side 1: Columbia Agar with 5% Horse Blood This is a general-purpose medium enriched with 5% defibrinated horse blood that is suitable for the isolation of most organisms, including many fastidious anaerobes. Side 2: Columbia Agar with 5% Horse Blood and CAP Selective Supplement This is a medium for the selective isolation of Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp. primarily from clinical specimens. Based on Columbia Agar Base enriched with 5% horse blood the medium is made selective by the inclusion of colistin and aztreonam to suppress the growth of the majority of Gram-negative bacteria. -
Side 1 – Columbia Agar w 5% Horse Blood This is a general-purpose medium with 5% defibrinated horse blood suitable for isolation of most organisms including fastidious anaerobes. Side 2- Chocolate Agar w 5% Horse Blood This is a highly nutritious medium supplemented with defibrinated horse blood and chocolated by heating to 70°C for 5 minutes. It will support the growth of a wide range of pathogens including the most fastidious organisms and is particularly useful for the cultivation of Haemophilus spp. and Neisseria spp -
Side 1: Columbia Blood Agar with 7% Sheep Blood & CNA Supplement This is a selective medium for the isolation of Staphylococcus and Streptococcus spp. Based on columbia agar, it is enriched by the addition of sheep blood (7%) the medium is also made selective by the inclusion of colistin and nalidixic acid to suppress the growth of the majority of Gram negative bacteria. The addition of sheep blood to the medium allows for good colonial appearance, pigment production and excellent haemolysis from beta-haemolytic streptococci. Side 2: Sabouraud Dextrose Agar with Chloramphenicol A selective medium for the isolation of yeasts and fungi. Sabouraud dextrose agar is suitable for use in all areas of Mycology. The low pH of the medium inhibits most bacteria, however in this formulation chloramphenicol (150mg/L) is added to further reduce the risk when processing material that may be heavily contaminated particularly with coliforms. -
Side 1: Primary UTI Chromogenic Agar This is a chromogenic medium based on CLED that has been developed to allow differentiation and presumptive identification of organisms typically found in urinary tract infections. Reduced electrolyte concentration prevents swarming of Proteus spp. A sophisticated binary chromogenic system and supplementation with tryptophan allows differentiation of enterococci (turquoise colonies), Proteus spp (clear colonies with a brown halo), Enterobacter spp (metallic blue colonies), staphylococci (white colonies), and E. coli (purple colonies). Side 2: Columbia Agar w 7% Defibrinated Horse Blood & CNA This is a selective medium for the isolation of Staphylococcus/ spp and Streptococcus spp. It is based on Columbia Agar enriched with defibrinated horse blood which promotes good colony appearance, pigment production and excellent haemolysis from beta-haemolytic streptococci. The medium is made selective by the inclusion of colistin and nalidixic acid to suppress growth of the majority of Gram-negative bacteria.
