Brain Heart Infusion Agar (Special Infusion Agar) is for cultivation of fastidious pathogenic bacteria, yeasts and moulds. Pack size is 500G

Brain Heart Infusion Agar is highly nutritious and can support luxuriant growth of wide variety of microorganisms. It can be further enriched by the addition of blood or rendered selective by adding different antibiotics (1, 2). It is a general purpose medium used for primary isolation of aerobic bacteria from clinical specimens. Addition of 50 mg/l chloramphenicol or 40mg/l streptomycin or a mixture of 50mg/l gentamicin and 50mg/l chloramphenicol along with 5-10% sterile defibrinated blood is often recommended for inhibition of bacteria and isolation of pathogenic systemic fungi. A mixture of cycloheximide (0.5 g/l) and chloramphenicol (0.05 g/l) is also used for selective isolation of pathogenic fungi (incubation at 25-30°C for 1-2 weeks) (3). Some fungi may be inhibited on this medium with 10% sheep blood, gentamicin and chloramphenicol (4-6). Proteose peptone and infusions used in the media serves as sources of carbon, nitrogen, vitamins, amino acids, along with essential growth factors. Dextrose is the energy source. Sodium chloride maintains the osmotic equilibrium of the medium while disodium phosphate buffers the medium. Defibrinated sheep blood added to the basal medium provides essential growth factors for the more fastidious fungal organisms. Directions: Suspend 52 grams in 1000 ml distilled water. Heat to boiling to dissolve the medium completely. Sterilize by autoclaving at 15 lbs pressure (121°C) for 15 minutes. Mix well before pouring. If desired, 20 units Penicillin and 40 µg Streptomycin per ml of medium may be added to make the medium selective for fungi.