INTERNATIONAL
JOURNAL
OF SYSTEMATIC
BACTERIOLOGY,
Apr. 1986, p. 360
0020-7713/86/020360-01$02.OO/O
Copyright 0 1986, International Union of Microbiological Societies
Vol. 36, No. 2
Book Review
Media for Isolation-Cultivation-IdentiJication-Maintenanceof
Medical Bacteria. Volume 1. By J. F. MacFaddin. Williams &
Wilkins, Baltimore, 1985, $89.95.
The problem with the microbial world is its preference for
indiscriminate socializing. Every nook and cranny of, and
every living creature on, this planet teem with microbial
representatives. It is a rare event in nature when a microorganism is encountered all alone, totally by itself. Actually,
we microbiologists are unaware of this event, since we are
not acquainted with the single bacterium, fungus, yeast,
protozoan, or virus, but recognize only the progeny of even
this single microbe if we are fortunate enough to have the
means for its propagation. Since the very beginning, microbiology as a laboratory discipline has been indentured to the
dogma of the pure culture technique. Microbiologists must
deal with the vast populations of especially bacteria, yeasts,
and fungi separated from their own kind and any natural
companions in order to provide the subjects for careful
microbiological analyses leading to identification. Indeed,
magnificent strides have been made recently to provide the
immunochemical and molecular tools to cast off the centuryold yoke of the pure culture dogma, but the vast majority of
microbiologists have seen, but have not as yet reached, the
promised land of monoclonal antibodies and appropriate
molecular probes. We plebian microbiologists must still be
content with an ever-increasing array of broth and agar
media to sequester the objects of our interest from the
samples submitted.
Most microbiologists perform the bulk of their analyses
with 40 to 50 different media. When unexpected isolations
occur or requests are made to look for an extraordinary type
of microorganism, a search for suitable methods and media
is initiated. There are helpful manuals that guide us in this
effort, but time and again our search is stymied by lack of
information or media descriptions not contained in brochures or manuals provided by the media manufacturers.
The volume, reviewed here, is the answer to this frustration.
While the title proclaims that the media described are for
medical bacteria only, a number of formulations for yeast
and fungi are included. In addition, some of the prescribed
media for commercially important analyses are included,
making this contribution suitable for a wider audience than
suggested by the title. More than 1,300 media items are listed
in the alphabetically arranged Table of Contents. The actual
number of media described may be slightly less, since Jean
MacFaddin has taken the trouble to list the several names or
abbreviations by which some media are known. But this
overlap does not diminish the exhaustive presentation of the
microbiological media included; while the actual number of
media discussed may be slightly less, access to information
is made easier by this action.
In her preface, MacFaddin states that this volume is
intended as a “What Is” volume, while volume I1 shall
provide in-depth coverage of all aspects of media, criteria
related to the preparation and the use of a specific medium
for a specific purpose. In other words, those who wish to
know which medium to use for isolating or identifying a
specific organism from a particular type of specimen must
await the publication of volume 11. But even a cursory
perusal of volume I persuades the reader than an enormous
amount of important microbiological information can be
gleaned from its content, information that transcends the
mere description of media. Each of the many microbiological
culture agars and broths is treated in a standardized fashion.
Besides the name and synonyms of each medium, modifications are listed and subsequently described. The originators
of the formulation are mentioned and referenced. Each
medium is classified according to its use, i.e., selective,
differential, general purpose, etc., and the salient distinguishing characteristics are mentioned. Next, the purpose
for using the medium is detailed, followed by a catalogue of
the ingredients. The final pH at 25°C is given, modifications
are enumerated, pH indicators are detailed, and fermentable
carbohydrates, H2S indicators, and inhibitors are listed. If
none of the latter three are used in the medium, this
information is provided. Next, the commercial manufacturers of the dehydrated formulation are mentioned. The manner of dispensing, sterilization, the appearance of finished
uninoculated products are described. Appropriate organisms
for positive and negative controls are shown, although
ATCC numbers are not suggested. Storage conditions and
shelf life are listed, followed by instructions on the inoculation of the medium, conditions and length of incubation;
results, interpretations, and precautions are described. The
final entry consists of the literature cited. Frequently there is
reference to Appendix 1. This consists of 93 photographs in
series supplied by manufacturers that demonstrate colonial
morphology, reactions, and other properties of the media.
Some of these illustrations are excellent; others do not fulfill
the need. Appendix 2 addresses reagent preparations and
provides excellent details and definitions not usually found
in media manuals such as different chemical gradings and
their meaning, percent solutions and appropriate calculations, molarity, and the various other calculations required
to prepare media for use in the microbiology laboratory. The
last appendix lists the names, addresses, and telephone
numbers of dehydrated media manufacturers, and the same
information for commercial suppliers of chemicals, supplements, etc.
There are quite a number of tables in the description of
especially differential media that illustrates the reaction
possibilities, such as acid, alkali, or neutral, and the usual
organisms that elicit these reactions and that can be separated by the use of the medium under discussion. Occasional
errors are encountered; the final pH may be omitted (page
12), the meaning of an abbreviation may be given for one
table, not for another; negative control organisms are on rare
occasions listed with the positive control grouping (page 56),
numbers are omitted, such as the numeral 1in 1%glycine in
Table B-15 (page 123); also, rarely, the genus and species
names are not italicized, or a footnote referenced to the
incorrect line such as the asterisks in Table P-71 (page 633)
that designate Enterobacter exceptions for Serratia and vice
versa. These small lapses in proofreading in no way detract
from the herculean effort of Jean MacFaddin in collecting
and organizing this important reference volume that has a
place on the book shelf in each and every microbiology
laboratory and on the shelves of microbiologist’s and science
libraries. Ms. MacFaddin deserves applause and undisguised
admiration for this accomplishment.
Henry D. Isenberg
Long Island Jewish Medical Center
New Hyde Park, New York 11042
360
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