Lab M launches new agar for Enterococci research

Lab M has launched a new type of agar which makes it easier for Enterococcus bacteria species to be detected and studied.

The MacConkey Agar No 2 product is a modified version of a previous MacConkey agar which contains No 2 bile salts, producing a medium in which Enterococci appear as intensely-coloured red-purple colonies.

This makes it easy to distinguish Enterococci infections, which are often used as indicators of faecal pollution in water, sewage or food products.

According to the manufacturer, this could prove important in efforts to combat clinical infections caused by these microorganisms, which include diverticulitis, meningitis, bacteremia and urinary tract infections.

Last month, the science company launched a new media range for the improved detection of Cronobacter sakazakii, which is linked with meningitis and sepsis.

The CSEB (ISO) enrichment broth, Harlequin CSIM (ISO) isolation medium and Harlequin CSA-DFI formulation are designed to make it easy to differentiate the bacteria from other organisms found in dairy produce.