A novel and improved selective media for the isolation and enumeration of Klebsiella species

ABSTRACT: Bacterial pathogens are fostered in and transmitted through wastewater. Hence, monitoring their impact on sanitation and hygiene is imperative. As part of the monitoring process, culture-based methodologies are primarily used, which centre on the use of selective and differential media. Media available today are, at best, difficult to formulate and, at worst, prohibitively expensive. To address this lacuna, the study proposes a selective and differential medium for Klebsiella spp. Klebsiella blue agar (KBA) is completely selective against selected gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus spp., Staphylococcus aureus) and a few gram-negative bacteria (Acinetobacter baumanii, Serratia marcescens). On the other hand, it supports the growth of the chosen members of the Klebsiella pneumoniae species-complex with a characteristic green colouration. Methylene blue, tryptophan, and bile salt make up the selective components of KBA. Moreover, methylene blue, 0.6% NaCl, and glycerol render it differential. KBA was more selective than HiCrome™ Klebsiella Selective Agar Base (KSA) in replica plating experiments. KBA promoted only 157 CFUs against 209 CFUs in KSA when stamped with 253 CFUs grown on LB. The colonies so isolated were predominantly Klebsiella spp., on identification through colony polymerase chain reaction. Moreover, the differential nature of KBA distinguished Klebsiella aerogenes from other species. On the contrary, KSA lodged colonies indistinguishable from each other and Klebsiella spp. Due to its ease of formulation, high selectivity, differential nature, and cost-effective composition, KBA is a viable option for the routine culture of Klebsiella spp. in environmental and clinical settings. KEY POINTS: • Formulated a novel selective and differential media for Klebsiella spp., named Klebsiella Blue agar • Facile formulation methodology • Can be employed to isolate Klebsiella spp. from complex sources such as wastewater SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00253-022-12270-w.