Mannitol Salt Agar medium is recommended for the isolation of coagulase-positive staphylococci from cosmetics, milk, food and other specimens. The additional property of lipase activity of Staphylococcus aureus can be detected by the addition of the Egg Yolk Emulsion. The lipase activity can be visualized as yellow opaque zones around the colonies. Different types of Agar Available in LAbzo Mannitol Salt Agar

• Pack Size: 500 gm
• Brand: Himedia
• Origin: India
• Click to SDS

Intended Use:

This Recommended for the isolation of pathogenic Staphylococci from clinical and non-clinical samples.

• Proteose peptone 10.000 g/ L
• HM peptone B # 1.000 g/ L
• Sodium chloride 75.000 g/ L
• D-Mannitol 10.000 g/ L
• Phenol red 0.025 g/ L
• Agar 15.000 g/ L
• Final pH ( at 25°C) 7.4±0.2

**Formula adjusted, standardized to suit performance parameters

Directions:

Suspend 111.02 grams in 1000 ml purified / distilled water. Heat to boiling to dissolve the medium completely. Sterilize by autoclaving at 15 lbs pressure (121°C) for 15 minutes. Cool to 45-50°C. If desired, add 5% v/v Egg Yolk Emulsion (FD045). Mix well and pour into sterile Petri plates. Note: This product contains 7.5% Sodium chloride as one of its ingredients. On repeated exposure to air and absorption moisture sodium chloride has tendency to form lumps, therefore we strongly recommend storage in tightly closed containers in dry place away from bright light.

Principle And Interpretation of Mannitol Salt Agar

Staphylococci are widespread in nature, although they are mainly found on the skin, skin glands and mucous membranes of mammals and birds. The coagulase-positive species i.e Staphylococcus aureus is well documented as a human opportunistic pathogen. The ability to clot plasma continues to be the most widely used and accepted criterion for the identification of pathogenic staphylococci associated with acute infections (1). Staphylococci have the unique ability of growing on a high salt containing media (2). Isolation of coagulase-positive staphylococci on Phenol Red Mannitol Agar supplemented with 7.5% NaCl was studied by Chapman (3). The resulting Mannitol Salt Agar Base is recommended for the isolation of coagulase-positive Staphylococci from cosmetics, milk, food and other specimens (1, 4,5,6,7). The additional property of lipase activity of Staphylococcus aureus can be detected by the addition of the Egg Yolk Emulsion (FD045). The lipase activity can be visualized as yellow opaque zones around the colonies (8). HM peptone B and proteose peptone supply essential growth factors and trace nutrients to the growing bacteria. Sodium chloride serves as an inhibitory agent against bacteria other than staphylococci. Mannitol is the fermentable carbohydrate, fermentation of which leads to acid production, detected by phenol red indicator. S.aureus ferment mannitol and produce yellow coloured colonies surrounded by yellow zones. Coagulase-negative strains of S.aureus are usually mannitol non-fermenters and therefore produce pink to red colonies surrounded by red-purple zones. Presumptive coagulase-positive yellow colonies of S. aureus should be confirmed by performing the coagulase test [tube or slide] (1). Lipase activity of S.aureus can be detected by supplementing the medium with egg yolk emulsion. A possible S.aureus must be confirmed by the coagulase test. Also the organism should be subcultured to a less inhibitory medium not containing excess salt to avoid the possible interference of salt with coagulase testing or other diagnostic tests (e.g. Nutrient Broth) (M002) (9). Few strains of S.aureus may exhibit delayed mannitol fermentation. Negative results should therefore be re-incubated for an additional 24 hours before being discarded (9).

Type of specimen

Clinical samples: pus, urine, etc.; Food and dairy samples.

Specimen Collection and Handling

For food and dairy samples, follow appropriate techniques for sample collection and processing as per guidelines (6,10,11). For clinical samples follow appropriate techniques for handling specimens as per established guidelines (12,13). After use, contaminated materials must be sterilized by autoclaving before discarding.