Burkholderia cepacia agar base is a selective medium for the detection and isolation of Burkholderia cepacia from cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. This is an important opportunistic pathogen in CF patients and can lead to fatal infection in approximately 20% individuals that have been colonised with B. cepacia complex organisms. This medium is based on the PC medium described by Gilligan et al.
Magnesium sulphate, ammonium sulphate and ferrous ammonium sulphate supports the growth of B. cepacia. Potassium di-hydrogen phosphate and di-sodium hydrogen phosphate are buffering agents, used to maintain the pH the medium. The phenol red is used as a pH indicator. If the sodium pyruvate in the medium is metabolised by B. cepacia alkaline by-products are produced which raises the pH. This causes the colour of the medium to turn pink/red around sections of heavy growth on the medium. Bile salts and crystal violet are selective agents.
The associated selective supplement for this medium, LS0125, contains ticarcillin and polymyxin B which further improves the selectivity, particularly with the inhibition of Pseudomonas spp.

Related Supplements :
LS0125 B.cepacia Selective Supplement, LS0026 Pseudomonas CFC Selective Supplement