Comparison of Inhibitory Mold Agar to Sabouraud Dextrose Agar as a Primary Medium for Isolation of Fungi

ABSTRACT Clinical specimens cultured on two selective fungal media, inhibitory mold agar (IMA) and Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA), were compared with respect to recovery of fungi. Of the 840 fungal isolates recovered, 69.3% grew on both IMA and SDA; 24.9% grew only on IMA; and 5.8% grew only on SDA, showing that IMA is superior ( P = 0.003).