A SIMPLE ARTIFICIAL URINE FOR THE GROWTH OF URINARY PATHOGENS

A simple artificial urine medium (AUM) has been developed which provid es conditions similar to that found in human urine. AUM solidified wit h agar enabled the recovery of a wide range of urease-positive and -ne gative urinary pathogens. Liquid AUM supported growth at concentration s of up to 10(8) cfu ml(-1), as found in normal urine. Reproducible, s teady-state growth also occurred over many generations in continuous c ulture. AUM was capable of forming crystals and encrustations resembli ng those found in natural urinary tract infections. The medium is a su itable replacement for normal urine for use in a wide range of experim ents modelling the growth and attachment of urinary pathogens in the c linical environment.