A low-cost antifoam additive for agar-based culture media.
A highly effective, low-cost silicone-based antifoam emulsion is described which, at a final concentration of 100 ppm, prevents bubble formation during the preparation and dispensing of agar media. The compound is heat-stable, has a long shelf-life and offers considerable savings in cost by reduction in wastage of time and materials. It has no demonstrable deleterious effect on the growth of a wide range of pathogenic and commensal bacteria, or on antibiotic disc susceptibility testing, when examined using a range of different media.
Department of Bacteriology, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK.
J I
JI
Blenkharn
S
S
Wood
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D000934:Antifoaming Agents; D001419:Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development*; D003470:Culture Media; D004655:Emulsions; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D012828:Silicones; D013501:Surface-Active Agents
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000934:Antifoaming Agents; D003470:Culture Media; D004655:Emulsions; D012828:Silicones; D013501:Surface-Active Agents