Mueller Hinton Agar, 500gm Himedia

Mueller Hinton Agar is used as a test medium for antimicrobial susceptibility testing. It is recommended for the diffusion of antimicrobial agents impregnated on paper disc through an agar gel as described in CLSI Approved Standard.

Mueller-Hinton Agar (MHA) is a type of growth medium commonly used in microbiology, especially for antibiotic susceptibility testing, such as the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. It provides the necessary nutrients for the growth of a wide variety of bacteria, particularly for determining the effectiveness of antibiotics against bacterial pathogens.

Intended Use:
Recommended for determination of susceptibility of microorganisms to antimicrobial agents isolated from clinical samples.

Chemical Compositions: HM infusion B from # 300.000 Gms / Litre, Acicase ## 17.500 Gms / Litre, Starch 1.500 Gms / Litre, Agar 17.000 G/L and pH ( at 25°C): 7.3±0.1.

General Composition of Mueller Hinton Agar:

The basic composition of Mueller-Hinton agar includes:

• Beef extract: provides nitrogen, vitamins, and minerals necessary for bacterial growth.
• Casein hydrolysate: a source of amino acids and peptides.
• Starch: helps to absorb toxins produced by bacteria, which could otherwise interfere with the effectiveness of antibiotics.
• Agar: solidifying agent.
• Distilled water: used to dissolve the above ingredients.

General Uses of Mueller Hinton Agar:

1. Antibiotic susceptibility testing: This is the most common application, where antibiotic-impregnated paper discs are placed on an inoculated agar plate, and the zone of inhibition is measured.
2. General bacterial culture: MHA supports the growth of most non-fastidious bacteria, although it is not typically used for special organisms that require specific nutrients.

Advantages:

• It is standardized and widely accepted for antibiotic testing, providing consistent and reproducible results.
• The low levels of certain components, like magnesium and calcium, help avoid interference with the diffusion of antibiotics, making it ideal for the Kirby-Bauer test.

Precautions:

• The medium should not be used for organisms that require special growth conditions (e.g., fastidious organisms like Neisseria or Haemophilus species).
• The agar must be poured to a uniform depth (typically 4 mm) to ensure accurate diffusion of antibiotics.

Mueller-Hinton Agar is essential in clinical laboratories to determine bacterial resistance or sensitivity to antibiotics, aiding in the selection of appropriate treatments. The Brand is HiMedia and is Made in India.