Analisis Cost Effectiveness Media Alternatif Berbasis Limbah Kulit dan Kepala Udang Dibandingkan Sabouraud Dextrose Agar untuk Pertumbuhan Trichophyton rubrum

Afik Abdurrahman (Poltekkes Kemenkes Bandung)
Sulaeman (Poltekkes Kemenkes Bandung)
Ira Gustira Rahayu (Poltekkes Kemenkes Bandung)
Yuliansyah Sundara Mulia (Poltekkes Kemenkes Bandung)

Jaringan Laboratorium Medis
Vol 8 No 2 (2026): November 2026

Dermatophytosis is one of the most common superficial fungal infections and remains a significant public health concern, with Trichophyton rubrum being one of its primary causative agents. Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) is the standard medium widely used for dermatophyte culture, however, its production cost is relatively high, creating a need for more economical alternatives. Shrimp shell and head hydrolysate contains proteins, peptides, and amino acids that have the potential to be utilized as the basis for an alternative culture medium. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of shrimp waste hydrolysate media (40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%) in supporting the growth of Tricophyton rubrum and to analyze differences in cost effectiveness compared with SDA. A quasi experimental post test only control group design was employed with three replications per medium. Colony diameter was measured every 24 hours for 14 days. Statistical analysis was performed using the Kruskal-Wallis test, while economic evaluation employed the Average Cost Effectiveness Ratio (ACER) and Incremental Cost Effectiveness Ratio (ICER). Shrimp hydrolysate media (40-80%) supported fungal growth from day 2, with faster early phase growth than SDA due to the abundance of small peptides and free amino acids, particularly glutamic acid rapidly metabolized through Nitrogen Metabolite Repression. In the later growth phase, SDA produced more stable and optimal growth owing to its readily available glucose as a primary carbon source, whereas alternative media required sucrose hydrolysis and were affected by nutrient degradation during autoclaving and non standardized pH. No statistically significant differences were observed among media (p = 0.998). Cost effectiveness analysis indicated that the 40% hydrolysate medium was the most cost effective formulation, based on the ratio of production cost to colony growth. Shrimp waste hydrolysate media effectively support Trichophyton rubrum growth, with the 40% concentration representing the most economical option.