ISOLATION OF SYSTEMIC MYCOTIC PATHOGENS: QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE ASPECTS

Abstract

A simple method for estimating unit numbers of a yeast population obtained from solid media is described. A close relation existed between the estimated and viable populations. Nutrient blood agar was more sensitive than Sabouraud agar in the detection of yeast phase Histoplasma capsulatum in broth suspension. When the mycotic organisms were suspended in sputum, antibiotic agar proved to be a more sensitive qualitative and quantitative agent for the isolation of H. capsulatum, Blastomyces dermatitidis and Crytococcus neoformans. The significance of the routine use of antibiotic-containing blood agar media in bacteriological practice is discussed.