Brain Heart Infusion Agar 500g

Rosenow devised the original medium by adding brain tissue to dextrose agar. These media are nutritious and well buffered to support the growth of a wide range of microorganisms such as Streptococci, Pneumococci, Meningococci, etc. Addition of ascites permits the cultivation of Gonococci. With the addition of 10% defibrinated sheep blood, it is useful for isolation and cultivation of Histoplasma capsulatum and other pathogenic fungi. This medium is to be used for the selective isolation of fastidious fungi (especially of Histoplasma capsulatum and Blastomyces), the growth of the accompanying bacterial and saprophytic yeasts and molds can be almost completely suppressed by adding the following recommended components mixtures: 12 mg Penicillin and 40 ug Streptomycin per liter; 50 mg Chloramphenicol and 500mg Cycloheximide per liter; 50 mg Gentamicin and/or 50 mg Chloramphenicol per liter.
This medium is less suited for identifying haemolytic forms when blood is added due to its glucose content. While handling Histoplasma capsulatum extreme care should be taken to avoid dissemination of its infective spores. The culture should be examined in a closed filtered air cabinet.

BHI agar is a general-purpose medium used for primary isolation of pathogenic aerobic bacteria from clinical specimens and for the cultivation and maintenance of fastidious microorganisms from food, animal feed, water, and other samples
Defibrinated sheep blood added to the basal medium provides essential growth factors for the more fastidious fungal organisms.