UREA INDOLE MEDIUM (as per ISO 10273 : 2003)

Description

Strains of Enterobacteria are associated with abscesses, pneumonia, meningitis, septicemia and infections of wounds, the urinary tract and the intestine. They are a major component of the normal intestinal flora of humans but are relatively uncommon at other body sites. Of clinically significant isolates, Enterobacteriaceae may account for 80% of gram-negative bacilli and 50% of all clinically significant isolates in clinical microbiology laboratories. Urea Indole Medium is used for the identification of Enterobacteria on the basis of Urease and indole production and the transdeamination of tryptophan. This medium is very useful in the identification of Proteus species from Salmonella and Shigella species. The results for urease production should be noted prior to indole reaction, as addition of Kovacs reagent, decolourizes the medium, due to drop in pH.