What is the medium of choice for culturing gonococci and meningococci?

Modified Thayer-Martin medium is specifically formulated for the isolation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae (gonococci) and Neisseria meningitidis (meningococci). This medium is enriched and selective, which is crucial because these bacteria are fastidious and can be outcompeted by other flora present in clinical samples.

The modified Thayer-Martin medium contains nutrients (such as yeast extract and horse blood) to support growth and antibiotics (like vancomycin, colistin, and nystatin) to inhibit the growth of other bacteria and fungi that might be found in samples, allowing for the selective culture of the target organisms.

This ability to selectively culture gonococci and meningococci makes modified Thayer-Martin the preferred medium for laboratory diagnosis of infections caused by these specific bacterial pathogens.