Abstract
A total of 678 stool specimens were cultured on four different agars: on xylose-lysine-desoxycholate agar (XLD), MacConkey agar (Mac), MacConkey agar supplemented with xylose (Mac-X), and Hektoen enteric agar (HE). Isolation rates for shigellae were 77% on HE, 86% on Mac and Mac-X, and 91% on XLD. The specificities of the media were 61% for Mac, 75% for HE, and 78% for XLD and Mac-X. After overnight incubation, Mac-X is much easier to read than XLD, which requires incubation for at least 22 hours. Based on these results and also on the practical aspect that incubation for 22-2l hours does not fit well in our schedule, we now use Mac-X whenever shigellae need to be looked for (i.e. mainly patients with recent travel to tropical countries). As compared to our previous procedure the workload in the laboratory could be reduced by about 20%.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
