HiCrome UTI Agar : An Alternative To Conventional Media For Presumptive Identification And Isolation Of Uropathogens

Pradnya Atmaram Jadhav; Shahriar B. Roushani

Volume : V, Issue : XII, December - 2016

HiCrome UTI Agar : An Alternative To Conventional Media For Presumptive Identification And Isolation Of Uropathogens

Pradnya Atmaram Jadhav, Shahriar B. Roushani

Abstract :

The increase in resistance of uropathogens to antimicrobial agents, especially in hospitalized patients, demands rapid identification of the pathogen. Current detection methods including culture and identification are time–consuming. The chromogenic media offers simultaneous presumptive identification of gram–positive and gram–negative bacteria and yeasts on a single medium by means of distinct colony colours produced by reactions of genus– or species–specific enzymes with a suitable chromogenic substrate. The present study was undertaken to validate the usefulness of HiCrome UTI agar as a primary urine culture medium for its rate of isolation and presumptive identification of uropathogens in comparison to CLED agar, BA and MA agar. This study included 1500 midstream and/or catheter–catch urine samples from clinically suspected UTI patients of different age and sex groups. HiCrome UTI agar, MacConkey agar , Blood agar and CLED agar media were obtained as a dehydrated powder from HiMedia laboratories. Urine culture was done on above said media and presumptive identification of bacterial growth was done Out of total 1500 urine samples,552 urine samples showed significant growth of a single isolate and 13 urine samples showed mixed growth of two organisms and 50% samples were sterile. Among all the bacterial isolates E.coli were maximum in number (n=195), followed by Klebsiella spp. (n=81).Staphylococcus aureus and Candida spp. constitute 12.97 % and 7.61% of the total urinary isolates, respectively. Maximum number of urinary isolates was presumptively identified on Hicrome UTI agar (88.06 %) and there is no significant difference in the rate of presumptively identification from CLED agar and Blood agar and MacConkey agar in combination (62.97% and 61.24, respectively). Presumptively identification of mixed growth of organisms on Hicrome UTI agar was 100%, but CLED agar, Blood agar and MacConkey agar in combination failed to presumptively identify 100% mixed growth of organisms. The overall findings of this study suggests that though expensive, chromogenic media like HiCrome UTI Agar media, is an acceptable alternative to traditional media for the isolation of urinary pathogens.