Mannitol Salt Agar in Pakistan

Description

Mannitol salt agar (MSA) is a type of growth medium used in microbiology laboratories to identify Staphylococcus aureus, including methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). It is a selective and differential medium that contains mannitol, a sugar fermented by S. aureus, and sodium chloride, which inhibits the growth of most other bacteria. MSA also contains the pH indicator phenol red, which changes color in the presence of acid produced by certain bacteria. To use MSA, a sample is transferred to the medium and incubated. The appearance of colonies on the plate can then be used to identify the bacteria. MSA is commonly used to isolate and identify S. aureus and MRSA and is useful in diagnosing and treating infections caused by these bacteria and in monitoring bacterial contamination.