A Comparative Study of Helicobacter pylori Growth on Different Agar-based Media

Lee, Jung Hwan; Park, Jiwan; Park, Mi Ri; Na, Yoon Hee; Cho, Soo Jeong

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
Optimal culture conditions for Helicobacter pylori have not been established. We compared the effectiveness of four different agar-based media for the growth of H. pylori.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
G27, ATCC #43504 and 60190, and primary cultured strains were used. H. pylori strains were cultured for four days under four culture conditions: chocolate agar, Thayer-Martin (TM) agar containing vancomycin-colistin-nystatin inhibitor (VCNI), Brucella agar, and brain heart infusion (BHI) agar containing 5% horse blood and IsoVitaleX (BBLâ„¢ BD, USA). Culture of cells in each medium was repeated fourteen times. The growth of H. pylori was measured by using a spectrophotometer.
RESULTS
TM, Brucella, and BHI agars showed mean absorbance values of 0.099, 0.059, 1.410, and 0.913, respectively. These values were significantly different (P=0.030). After post-adjustment by Bonferroni correction, similar growth was noted for in chocolate, Brucella, and BHI agars; however, TM agar significantly suppressed H. pylori growth compared with Brucella agar (P=0.031).
CONCLUSIONS
Chocolate, Brucella, and BHI agars provided effective culture conditions for the growth of H. pylori. TM agar containing VCNI suppressed the growth of H. pylori and other organisms.