ANAEROBIC BASAL AGAR

Bacteroides comprise a major portion of the human normal flora, predominating in the intestinal tract. These organisms are, like other anaerobes, generally opportunistic and can cause a variety of infections throughout the body. The most common infections include pleuropulmonary, intra-abdominal and infections of the female urogenital tract. Bacteroides make up about one-third of the total anaerobic isolates obtained from various infections. Anaerobic Basal media are very nutritious and hence recommended for fastidious anaerobes like Bacteroides species. Anaerobic organisms require reducing conditions and an absence of dissolved oxygen in the medium. Strict anaerobes obtain its energy and intermediates through oxidation utilizing hydrogen acceptors other than oxygen. Anaerobes are unable to grow if the medium contains dissolved oxygen. Prereducing the medium by boiling to drive off the oxygen can expel this. Also reducing agents such as thioglycollate or cysteine can be added to the medium.
Anaerobic basal agar can be made selective for gram-negative anaerobes by the addition of Non-spore. Anaerobic Supplement and G.N. Spore Anaerobic Supplement. The media can also be made selective for non- sporing anaerobes by the addition of Non- spore Anaerobic Supplement. Anaerobic Basal Agar can be inoculated directly by surface streaking.

for cultivation of anaerobic microorganisms, like Bacteroides and other fastidious anaerobes