Chocolate agar and modified Thayer-Martin agar are used for the recovery of which bacteria?

Chocolate agar is a rich medium that is particularly useful for the cultivation of fastidious organisms, including Haemophilus species. This type of agar is prepared by heating blood, which lyses the red blood cells and releases nutrients such as hemoglobin and other growth factors that support the growth of these bacteria. Haemophilus spp. require such enriched media for optimal growth, making chocolate agar the appropriate choice for their recovery.

Modified Thayer-Martin agar is a selective medium used primarily to isolate Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the bacterium responsible for gonorrhea. This medium contains antibiotics that inhibit the growth of competing flora while allowing Neisseria species to grow. The addition of nutrients and a chocolate base enriches it further, aiding in the recovery of this organism from clinical specimens.

The answer correctly pairs these media with the respective organisms they are used to isolate. Haemophilus spp. thrive on chocolate agar, whereas N. gonorrhoeae is effectively recovered using modified Thayer-Martin agar.