title: ICMSF methods studies. X. An international comparative study of four media for the enumeration of Staphylococcus aureus in foods.
abstract: An international comparative study, undertaken by six laboratories to assess the performance of four selective media commonly used for the enumeration of Staphylococcus aureus in foods, revealed that Baird-Parker agar performed most satisfactorily. There was no significant difference among milk salt, tellurite polymyxin egg yolk, and kalium rhodanid - actidione - natriumazid - eigelb - pyruvat (KRANEP) agars. The type of food examined appeared to influence the performance of the media, but no specific patterns could be determined. Cultures yielding 3+ and 4+ coagulase reactions are most likely to possess thermostable nuclease activity, and are therefore most likely to be S. aureus.
mesh_terms: D003470:Culture Media; D005516:Food Microbiology; D007391:International Cooperation; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media