Selective isolation and enumeration of low numbers of Staphylococcus aureus by a procedure that relies on elevated-temperature culturing

Abstract

A procedure for the selective detection of S. aureus was elaborated, consisting of three parts: enrichment in liquid Baird-Parker medium; isolation on Baird-Parker agar incubated at 43°C, and confirmation by means of the test for thermostable nuclease. Elevated-temperature incubation of Baird-Parker medium did not make it inhibitory to cells stressed by heat treatment or osmotic shock.