Sabouraud agar

Image:Trichophyton rubrum var. rodhaini PHIL 4248 lores.jpg|thumb|Bottom view of a Sabouraud agar plate with a colony of Trichophyton rubrum var. rodhaini
Image:Sporothrix schenckii PHIL 3943 lores.jpg|thumb|Sporothrix schenckii in Sabouraud agar
Image:Candida albicans PHIL 3192 lores.jpg|thumb|Candida albicans in Sabouraud agar
Image:Trichophyton terrestre PHIL 4300 lores.jpg|thumb|Trichophyton terrestre in Sabouraud agar
Sabouraud agar or Sabouraud dextrose agar is a type of agar growth medium containing peptones. It is used to cultivate dermatophytes and other types of fungi, and can also grow filamentous bacteria such as Nocardia. It has utility for research and clinical care.
It was created by, and is named after, Raymond Sabouraud in 1892. In 1977 the formulation was adjusted by Chester W. Emmons when the pH level was brought closer to the neutral range and the dextrose concentration lowered to support the growth of other microorganisms. The acidic pH of traditional Sabouraud agar inhibits bacterial growth. Peptones are complex digests and can be a source of variability in Sabouraud agar.

Typical composition

Sabouraud agar is commercially available and typically contains:

40 g/L dextrose
10 g/L peptone
20 g/L agar
pH 5.6

Medical use

Clinical laboratories can use this growth medium to diagnose and further speciate fungal infections, allowing medical professionals to provide appropriate treatment with antifungal medications. Histoplasma and other fungal causes of atypical pneumonia can be grown on this medium. Sabouraud agar used in combination with additional media, such as Inhibitory Mold Agar, improves identification of fungal clinical isolates.