Selective, Differential, and Enriched Media

Subject 4

• Selective – Contains chemicals that allow the growth of one type of organism
while inhibiting growth of other organisms
• Differential – Contains chemical that produce a change in the color of colonies/
media around colonies
• often provide carbs., yield acidic end product
• include pH indicator
• Enriched – Contains substance nutrients that encourages the growth of many types
of organisms, Including: fastidious organisms
Red Blood Cells: enriched & differential due to hemolytic patterns produce:
alpha,beta, gamma
Media Selective Differential Enriched Observation
Comment Mannitol
(MSA) Media designed to fermentation of:
Mannitol Salt 7.5%NaCl Carbohydrate identify S.aureus (+) - S.aureus
Agar mannitol Produces yellow
medium around
colonies
(-) - Staphlycoccus
spp –are colorless
- Carbohydrate Comment Only Gram (-)
(MAC) Crystal lactose All Gram (–) are bacilli will grow
MacCokey Agar Violet Enterics
- pH indicator • Coliforms = Coliform- colonies:
Lactose become redish-pink
- Bile salt fermentation
• Noncoliforms Noncoliform-
Do not ferment Colonies are colorles
Comment Only Gram (-)
All Gram (–) are bacilli will grow
(EMB) Methylene Blue Enterics
Eosin- • Coliforms = Coliform- colonies
Methylene Blue Lactose start w/ d.pink,
Agar fermentation blue, black
faster fermentation
• Noncoliforms = darker colonies
Do not ferment
Noncoliform-
colonies are colorles
Hemolysis
classifications
Blood Agar Gamma hemolysis Added for
Alpha hemolysis cultivation of
Beta hemolysis fastidious organisms
Selective, Differential, and Enriched Media
Subject 4

Common Pathogens:
1. Gram positive cocci:
• Staphylococcus spp.
• Streptococcus spp.
2. Gram Negative Bacilli
• Enterobacteriacae –(“Entrerics” associated with GI tract where many parts of the
normal flora)
 Coliforms – ferment lactose; generally normal flora
 Noncoliforms – Do NOT ferment lactose, more normal flora +
 GI pathogens: Slamonella and Shigella