EVALUATION OF CPS ID-2 CHROMOGENIC AGAR AS A SINGLE MEDIUM FOR URINE CULTURE

The CPS ID 2 (CPS) chromogenic agar was compared to routine media for use in the isolation, enumeration, identification, and susceptibility testing of bacteria recovered from urine specimens. Of 487 urine speci mens, 318 were culture negative, 12 were positive on CPS only, 16 posi tive on routine only, and 141 positive on both. The enumeration of mic roorganisms agreed for 96 of the 141 cultures. Fewer organisms were re covered on CPS for 25 cultures, more for 20 cultures. The identificati on of bacteria from CPS and routine media agreed for all isolates. Sus ceptibility testing was performed for 200 isolates. The categorical su sceptibility test results from isolates grown on CPS agreed with resul ts from routine media for 77 isolates. For the remaining 23 isolates, one or more discrepancies were seen involving 16 different antimicrobi al agents; 27 minor, I major, and 6 very major errors. After additiona l testing, there were 10 confirmed errors, 7 minor and 3 very major er rors. This study demonstrates that CPS agar is a reliable medium for c ulturing urine. Susceptibility testing directly from this medium resul ted in low error rates for all antimicrobial agents tested. (C) 1997 E lsevier Science Inc.