Sabouraud Glucose Agar Medium with Chloramphenicol is cited as Medium C and recommended for cultivation of yeasts and moulds by British Pharmacopoeia (1). This medium was described originally by Sabouraud (2) for the cultivation of fungi, particularly useful for the fungi associated with skin infections. The medium is often used with antibiotics such as Chloramphenicol (3) for the isolation of pathogenic fungi from materials containing large numbers of fungi or bacteria. Peptones (from meat and casein) provide nitrogenous compounds. Glucose monohydrate provides an energy source. Chloramphenicol inhibits a wide range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, which makes the medium selective for fungi (4). The low pH favors fungal growth and inhibits contaminating bacteria from clinical specimens (5).
Some pathogenic fungi may produce infective spores which are easily dispersed in air, so examination should be carried out in safety cabinet.
Storage and Shelf-life:
Store below 8°C in tightly closed container and the prepared medium at 2-8°C. Use before expiry date on the label.
References:
1. British Pharmacopoeia, 2009, The Stationery office British Pharmacopoeia.
2. Sabouraud K., 1892, Ann. Dermatol. Syphilol, 3:1061.
3. Ajello L., 1957, J. Chron. Dis., 5:545.
4. Lorian (Ed.),1980, Antibiotics In Laboratory Medicine, Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore.
5. Murray, P. R 2008, In Manual of Clinical Microbiology, 7th ed., ASM, Washington, D.C.