What will Nocardia grow on?

Nocardia species are aerobic bacteria that are known for their slow growth and complex nutritional requirements. They can grow on various media, but they specifically thrive in environments that do not contain antibiotics. This is due to their inherent resistance to many antimicrobial agents, which allows them to proliferate in conditions where other bacteria might be inhibited. The absence of antibiotics facilitates their growth since they are not subjected to the selective pressure that would normally limit the viability of sensitive organisms.

While other options mention the absence of blood serum, peptone, or agar, Nocardia can actually grow on media that contains these components, provided that antibiotics are excluded. This characteristic is crucial for laboratory culture, as it informs the choice of media for isolating and studying Nocardia, particularly in clinical settings where accurate identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing are necessary. Therefore, the primary condition for successful Nocardia growth is the lack of antibiotics in the media.