Screening For Common Diseases Using Chromogenic Media

Chromogenic media are used for applications which require the detection or enumeration of bacteria and other microbiological growth. These media are available as a granular material or as a powder which contain enzymes which react chromogenically with different types of microorganisms. The exact type of media chosen is dependent on the sort organisms whose presence is being tested for; the enzymes produced by the target population react with the substrate, causing a change of color. With customized incubation procedures, the selectivity of the application can be increased, often allowing for a confirmation of the target organism without any need for further testing.

Chromogenic media is a somewhat recent development in the life sciences, having first been used in the late 1980s when the possibilities of selective detection of microorganisms through chromogenic reactions came to be recognized. This procedure is often used as a simple test for the presence or absence of a particular microorganism, but along with other materials or by plating the media, they can also be used for the quantitative analysis of microbes.

It is color differentiation of this type of media which gives it an advantage over traditional types of culture media. Various types of bacterial colonies can be quickly identified through the distinctive hue or intensity of color that these organisms produce when in contact with chromogenic media. These media are used for easy identification of pathogenic microorganisms including Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus B (used for screening for perinatal Group B Strep in infants) and all serotypes of Salmonella.

Due to the increase infections acquired in medical facilities and the rise of multiply resistant bacteria, these media are becoming an increasingly common item in clinics, hospitals and medical laboratories, with testing for nosocomial MRSA and Clostridium being especially important in clinical settings.

An especially important use for this type of media is for preliminary screening for common diseases; urinary tract infections, for one. These types of infections can be quickly tested for at clinics using plated chromogenic media, with Klebsiella, Enterobacter and E. coli among the organisms readily detectible in urine samples.

Testing for bacterial contamination in foodstuffs is another common application where chromogenic testing is useful; their ability to determine the presence of Staphylococcus aureus, Campylobacter, Salmonella, E. coli and other coliform bacteria and Listeria can all be tested for. Specific organisms can also be tested for using chromogenic analysis, making this an ideal method of ensuring the safety of the food supply.

Quite often, the media must be pre-enriched for at least 24 hours in order to allow the target organism to reach a high enough population to guarantee that these microbes will also be present in the chromogenic media when a subsample is taken for analysis. However, this is not always necessary, depending on the target organism, the type of media used and any other particular demands imposed by the application or environment, whether in water and food testing, screening for common infections or prenatal care. Chromogenic testing has become a valuable tool for quickly detecting potentially disease causing organisms and given the increase in dangerous antibiotic resistant microorganisms, is certain to take on an even larger role in medicine and the environmental sciences.

Take a look at other relevant information about agars and chromogenic media including blood culture bottle as well as microbiological media related material.

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The Use of Chromogenic Media For the Detection of Bacteria

Chromogenic media is used in the enumeration and detection of microorganisms and bacterial growth. These media, which are usually available as a powder or material that is granular, has enzymes that react with other types of micro-organisms chromogenically. Depending on the type of organisms whose presence is being tested the type of media is chosen. Incubation procedures are customized and target organisms are usually confirmed without the need for any further tests.

Chromogenic media was used in the 1980s when it came to be known that it was possible to detect microorganisms through these reactions. The procedure is a simple test to determine the absence or presence of a microorganism, and they can also be used for the quantitative microbe analysis by using other materials along with it.

The advantage this type of media has over the traditional culture media is the factor of color differentiation. Bacterial colonies of different types can be identified very quickly because of the color intensity and distinct hue the organisms can produce when they come in contact with chromogenic media. Pathogenic microorganisms like Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, Salmonella and Streptococcus B are easily identified by the use of these media.

Hospitals, medical laboratories and clinics today are using this media due to the rise and increase in resistant bacteria in medical facilities. This media is also used in the first/preliminary screening for diseases that are common, like infection of the urinary tract. These diseases can be tested by the use of chromogenic media that is plated with Enterobacter, Klebsiella and E. coli.

Chromogenic testing is also useful to test for contamination by bacteria in food stuff. With this testing one is able to detect the presence of Campylobacter, E. coli, Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria. This type of testing therefore ensures safety of one's food supply.

In order to give the target organism time to have a population that is high enough to be present when the sub-sample is going to be analyzed, the chromogenic media has to be pre-enriched at least for a period of 24 hours. However, this will depend on what the target organism is and the type of media being used. Other demands like the environment, testing for food, common infection and prenatal care is also taken into consideration.

Diseases causing potential organisms are quickly detected by the media. This is helpful especially as many microorganisms are becoming resistant to antibiotics. This type of media is available in bulk powder or as a granular ready to use material. Chromogenic agar media is also a medium that helps microbiologists to identify and isolate types of pathogenic micro-organisms. Many of these types are fastidious and do not grow on the agar plates that are standard without some enrichment.

Chromogenic media inoculation generally follows when an enriched organism is there, using techniques that are aseptic. After a period of around 34 hours which is the incubation period, an analysis is made for colony count, color, growth and morphology. This is extremely important to identify a specific organism that is being diagnosed or researched. Different agar media is available to microbiologists today. One example of such media is the MRSA (Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) identification media. Under developed countries have found MRSA has caused havoc among their populations causing diseases like TSS - toxic shock syndrome.

Take a look at other targeted resources about microbiology media products as well as chromogenic media applications.

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