DEXTROSE PROTEOSE PEPTONE AGAR BASE

Description

Corynebacterium diphtheriae is the causative agent of diphtheria, an acute communicable disease manifested by both local infection of the upper respiratory tract and the systemic effects of a toxin, which are most notable in the heart and peripheral nerves. C. diphtheriae is most often isolated from the nasopharynx or skin lesions of patients with diphtheria. Dextrose Proteose Peptone Agar is used for the isolation of C.diphtheriae, in combination with blood and tellurite. A selective serum medium containing tellurite was described by Conradi and Troch for isolating C.diphtheriae. This medium later on underwent modification by different authors in which they used heated Blood Agar Tellurite or Blood Agar Tellurite Arsenate Medium. McGuigan and Frobisher had used a Cystine Tellurite Blood Agar for C.diphtheriae. Without the inclusion of blood and tellurite, this medium is recommended as a general laboratory medium. With added tellurite and blood, this medium permits the isolation of C.diphtheriae.