Polymyxin-coagulase-mannitol-agar. I. A selective isolation medium for coagulase-positive Staphylococci.

A selective, differential plating medium was developed for the isolation and identification of coagulase-positive and mannitol-fermenting staphylococci. Coagulase produced by growing Staphylococcus aureus caused an opaque zone of fibrin to form around each colony. Several strains of S. aureus produced a visible coagulase reaction by 8 hr, and all strains gave a positive reaction before 12 hr. Mannitol fermentation was usually observed between 12 and 36 hr. Rabbit serum was filtered through Sephadex G-100 to obtain plasmin- and plasminogen-free coagulase-reacting factor (CRF). False-negative reactions, caused by staphylokinase and staphylococcal Müller factor action on plasminogen, were eliminated when this CRF was used. False-positive reactions by lipolytic, coagulase-negative staphylococci were reduced, since gel filtration removed the serum lipoprotein which served as a primary source of opacity. The addition of 75 mug of polymyxin B per ml selectively retarded the growth of S. epidermidis and minimized false-positive reactions caused by citrate-utilizing gram-negative rods. The preparation, characteristics, and use of the medium are presented.