Sigma-Aldrich UTI ChromoSelect Agar, modified, NutriSelect® Plus, suitable for microbiology

Sigma-Aldrich UTI ChromoSelect Agar is a chromogenic, differential culture medium designed for the isolation, identification, differentiation, and confirmation of enteric bacteria and other urinary tract pathogens such as Escherichia coli, Proteus species, Enterococcus species, and Staphylococcus species. It is a modern alternative to MacConkey Agar, offering enhanced selectivity and differentiation using chromogenic substrates.

Key Features

1. Chromogenic Differential Medium
   • Differentiates bacterial species based on the hydrolysis of chromogenic substrates, producing distinct colony colors for easy identification.
2. Wide Range of Applications
   • Suitable for the analysis of clinical, food, environmental, and veterinary samples, including:
     • Urine specimens for urinary tract infections (UTIs).
     • Food and water testing for enteric bacteria.
     • Environmental monitoring for pathogens.
3. Improved Differentiation
   • Enables differentiation of major UTI-causing organisms, including:
     • Escherichia coli
     • Proteus spp.
     • Klebsiella spp.
     • Enterococcus spp.
     • Pseudomonas spp.
     • Staphylococcus spp.
     • Other coliforms and Enterobacteriaceae.
4. Non-Selective yet Differential
   • Allows growth of various Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria while differentiating them based on chromogenic substrate hydrolysis.
5. Enhanced Visual Detection
   • Each organism produces a specific colony color, allowing for easy and quick presumptive identification.
6. High-Quality Media
   • Manufactured under NutriSelect® Plus standards to ensure reproducibility and reliability.

Specifications

Preparation Instructions

1. Suspend 55.4 g of the powdered medium in 1 liter of distilled water.
2. Heat the mixture to dissolve the medium completely.
3. Sterilize by autoclaving at 1 bar pressure (121°C) for 15 minutes.
4. Cool the medium to approximately 50°C.
5. Pour the sterilized medium into sterile Petri plates under aseptic conditions.
6. Allow plates to solidify and store at 2–8°C for up to 3 days.

Applications

1. Clinical Microbiology
   • Detection and differentiation of urinary tract pathogens (UTIs) in urine specimens.
   • Rapid identification of Escherichia coli, Proteus, Enterococcus, and Staphylococcus species.
2. Food and Water Testing
   • Monitor food and water for enteric bacteria such as coliforms and Enterobacteriaceae to assess contamination.
3. Environmental Monitoring
   • Detection of pathogenic organisms in environmental samples (e.g., water or soil).
4. Veterinary Microbiology
   • Isolation and identification of pathogens responsible for UTIs in animals.
5. Research Applications
   • Culturing and enumeration of bacterial pathogens for microbiological studies.

Advantages

1. Enhanced Differentiation
   • Chromogenic substrates allow visual detection of multiple pathogens on a single plate.
2. Quick Presumptive Identification
   • Distinct colony colors enable rapid differentiation without additional biochemical tests.
3. Alternative to MacConkey Agar
   • More comprehensive detection, including Gram-positive organisms.
4. Wide Suitability
   • Applicable across clinical, environmental, veterinary, and food microbiology.
5. High Reliability
   • Manufactured to NutriSelect® Plus standards to ensure consistent quality and reproducible results.

Result Interpretation

Storage and Shelf Life

• Store the powdered medium at 2–8°C in a dry location.
• Refer to the label for the expiration date.

References

1. Sigma-Aldrich UTI ChromoSelect Agar product documentation.
2. Use in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae cell culture studies.
3. Application for bacterial enumeration in mouse models.

The Sigma-Aldrich UTI ChromoSelect Agar provides an efficient, reliable, and visually clear solution for identifying urinary pathogens and enteric bacteria, making it ideal for clinical, environmental, and research microbiology.