Direct identification of the common cheese contaminant Penicillium commune in factory air samples as an aid to factory hygiene.

Creatine sucrose dichloran agar (CREAD) was used as a selective medium for Penicillium commune and related species found in air samples in a cheese factory. Using growth and simple colony characters on CREAD together with detection of indole metabolites with a filter paper method, it was possible to identify all 22 P. commune isolates from a total of 43 Penicillium isolates. Penicillium commune numbers on CREAD were compared with those found on a general isolation medium, dichloran 18% glycerol agar.