Update on Salmonella in Foods: Selective Plating Media and Other Diagnostic Media.

A variety of selective and differential agents are employed in plating media for isolation of salmonellae. Factors important in effectiveness of plating media are ability to support growth of salmonellae, inhibition of interfering bacteria, differentiation of salmonellae from other bacteria, and stability and reproducibility. Common types of salmonellae can be confirmed with a few simple biochemical tests. More extensive biochemical tests are required to differentiate biochemically atypical salmonellae from other bacteria.