Effect of Actidione on Mold Contaminants and on Human Pathogens

Abstract

SUMMARY Pathogenic fungi were isolated from clinical lesions as readily on actidione medium as on Sabouraud's agar. Cultures made on actidione medium were less frequently contaminated with saprophytic fungi than were cultures on Sabouraud's agar. Of 42 stock cultures of pathogenic fungi, all except 6 were shown to grow well on the actidione medium. Of 15 stock cultures of saprophytic fungi, the growth of 8 strains was considerably less on the actidione medium than on the Sabouraud medium, while six strains did not grow at all on the former. The actidione medium caused no change in the gross or microscopic characteristics of the cultures studied. The actidione medium may be useful in the isolation of pathogenic fungi from clinical lesions, and may aid in keeping stock cultures free from contamination with saprophytic fungi.