COMPARISON BETWEEN SELECTIVE MEDIA RAPID ESCHERICHIA-COLI AND VRBA WITH SODIUM MALONATE FOR ESCHERICHIA-COLI INVESTIGATION

A comparative study between two different coltural media, ''Rapid' E. coli'' (Sanofi Diagnostics Pasteur) and ''V.R.B.A. (Oxoid) with sodium malonate'', was carried out in order to evaluate their selective powe r for E. coli isolation in animal foods. The study was performed on 14 4 samples and showed that ''Rapid' E. coli'' medium is much more effic ient than ''V.R.B.A. with sodium malonate'' for the following reasons: E. coli are easier to identify and their count is simpler and more re liable; the enzymatic reaction (beta-glucuronidase activity) is highly specific for E. coli, so that the number of false positive is strongl y reduced; ''Rapid' E. coli'' medium strongly inhibits Gram positive a nd negative bacteria contaminating food.