CHROMagar™ COL-APSE is a sensitive and specific medium for the selective growth of colistin resistant bacterial pathogens.

Polymyxin E (colistin) and B are increasingly used as antimicrobials in the treatment of multi-drug resistant bacterial infections. Although intrinsic in Gram-positive and some Gram-negative species (Proteus, Morganella, Serratia), polymyxin resistance is now a problem in a number of other pathogens (Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica, Klebsiella pneumoniae).

Resistance arises due to mutations / insertions in genes involved in LPS biosynthesis (lpx, pmrA/B, mgrB, phoP/Q) and/ or the acquisition of phosphoethanolomine transferases (PEtN).

The recently described plasmid-encoded PEtN, MCR-1, is of great concern and is now found worldwide in a range of animal, human and environmental bacterial isolates.

CHROMagar™ COL-APSE is particularly useful as a primary isolation medium in the surveillance and recovery of colistin resistant bacteria from complex human, veterinary and environmental samples especially those with plasmid mediated MCR-1 or novel mechanisms of polymyxin resistance.