BURKHOLDERIA CEPACIA SELECTIVE AGAR (BCSA) (AS PER USP)

Burkholderia Cepacia Selective Agar is a selective and differential culture medium for the isolation of Burkholderia cepacia complex from respiratory secretions and other relevant samples. It is particularly useful where the slow growing organism may be outgrown by faster growing bacteria on routinely used media. The formulation is based on a PC medium developed by Gilligan. It provides increased selectivity for B. cepacia.
The medium contains casein peptone and yeast extract, which supplies carbonaceous and nitrogenous compounds, long-chain amino acids, sources of vitamin B and other nutrients required for the growth of the microorganisms. Crystal violet and antimicrobial agents provide selective action. Crystal violet and vancomycin inhibit Gram-positive cocci such as enterococci and staphylococci. Polymyxin B and gentamicin inhibit competing Gram-negative bacteria. B. cepacia metabolizes pyruvate and produces alkaline end products, resulting in a change of the phenol red indicator colour from pink orange to pink red in the presence of alkaline conditions.
For testing, samples are enriched in Soyabean Casein Digest Medium and then plated on selective agar. The selective nature of the medium and the differential reaction allow the isolation and presumptive identification of B. cepacia complex from clinical and environmental specimens.

Enables selective and differential isolation of Burkholderia cepacia complex by suppressing competing microorganisms and indicating characteristic alkaline reactions.