Standard Media for Staphylococcus aureus Water Testing

Coagulase-positive Staphylococci are normal inhabitants of the nose, skin and intestinal tract of humans, readily in contact with swimmers and thus are a major component of the bacterial flora found in swimming pools with high bather density, all the more so in that they are highly resistant to halogen disinfectants. Two main filtration techniques are currently used: the Chapman Mannitol Agar and Baird-Parker Agar methods. Baird-Parker for RPF Agar was introduced as a new method in June 2006 in the French experimental XP T90-412 standard, whose benefit is that it does not require confirmation. The entire culture medium range is suitable for filterable water such as swimming pool water, water for human consumption and establishment water.