What are the growth conditions necessary for Helicobacter pylori in a Whitley Workstation?
Optimal atmospheric conditions for growth of Helicobacter pylori have not been clearly defined. In a DWS study presented at the 9th International Workshop on Campylobacter, Helicobacter and Related Organisms held in 1997 in South Africa we showed that the addition of 3% hydrogen to the incubation atmosphere greatly enhanced growth of Helicobacter pylori as assessed by colony size. Henriksen et al (2000) have published a more detailed study of the assessment of optimal atmospheric conditions for growth of Helicobacter pylori in the European Journal of Clinical Microbiology. In this study the number and diameter of colonies of Helicobacter pylori isolates growing on agar plates were determined to compare five methods that produce a culture atmosphere. No catalyst was applied. No significant difference was found between two hydrogen-based kits that have a different capacity for production of H2. These hydrogen-based methods were significantly better than all others evaluated, including on
