Evaluation of double violet agar in the isolation of Klebsiella pneumoniae from river water.

A field evaluation of double violet agar for the isolation and presumptive identification of Klebsiella pneumoniae from water has been performed. Water from the North Oconee River, Clarke County, Ga., was cultured for presence of klebsiellae using the membrane filter technique. Colonies were presumptively identified as K. pneumoniae in the basis of their appearance on double violet agar. Such identifications were evaluated using appropriate biochemical tests. Once investigators have become familiar with cultural reactions on the medium, double violet agar can be used to indicate presence of K. pneumoniae in water with greater than 80% accuracy.