K.R.A.N.E.P. AGAR BASE

K.R.A.N.E.P. Agar is a selective medium used for the enumeration of Staphylococcus aureus in foods, which was first described, by Sinell and Baumgart. The name K.R.A.N.E.P. Agar comes from the initial letters of its main diagnostic, selective and stimulatory agents like Kalium-Rhodanid – Actidione-Natriumazid-Eigelb-Pyruvate. The medium is selective for the detection of Staphylococci due to the presence of potassium thiocyanate and mannitol. The selectivity is further enhanced by the addition of sodium azide and cycloheximide. Sodium pyruvate and egg yolk emulsion added to the medium serve as growth enhancer and diagnostic agent respectively. K.R.A.N.E.P. Agar is recommended for the selective isolation of coagulase negative Staphylococci from meat products and therefore this medium is used to enumerate the total staphylococcal count i.e. coagulase positive and coagulase negative Staphylococci, from food products.

for selective enumeration of total Staphylococci from foods