BCYE Agar (Legionella Isolation Medium)

BCYE Agar is used (with appropriate supplementation) for the isolation of Legionella spp. from water and environmental samples. BCYE Agar is not intended for use in the diagnosis of disease or other conditions in humans.

In 1977, McDade et al. identified Legionella pneumophila as the causative agent of Legionnaires’ disease, a multisystem disease manifested primarily by pneumonia. In 1978 a new medium, F-G Agar, resulted in improved growth of L. pneumophila, a very fastidious organism. Freely et al. modified F-C Agar by substituting yeast extract as a vitamin source and replacing starch with activated charcoal, producing Charcoal Yeast Extract (CYE) Agar. In 1980, Pasculle et al. reported that CYE Agar could be improved by the addition of ACES (N-2-acetamido-2-aminoethane sulfonic acid) buffer. One year later, Edelstein further increased the sensitivity of the medium by adding the potassium salt of alpha-ketoglutaric acid.