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Chocolate Agar | H. influenzae | Contains Factor V (NAD) and Factor X (hemin).
Thayer-Martin Agar | Neisseria spp. | Chocolate agar + Vancomycin (kills G+), Polymyxin (kills G-), Nystatin (kills fungi). "VPN"
Löffler / Tellurite | C. diphtheriae | Tellurite is reduced to antimony, making colonies gray/black.
Lowenstein-Jensen | M. tuberculosis | Classic for TB; however, liquid media (MGIT) is often faster in modern labs.
Eaton Agar | M. pneumoniae | Requires cholesterol. Look for "mulberry" or "fried egg" colonies.
MacConkey Agar | Lactose fermenters | Fermenters (e.g., E. coli, Klebsiella) turn the agar pink.
EMB Agar | E. coli | Colonies show a distinct metallic green sheen.
BCYE Agar | Legionella / Brucella | Buffered Charcoal Yeast Extract. Requires Cysteine and Iron.
Regan-Lowe / Bordet-Gengou | Bordetella pertussis | Contains potato, charcoal, and blood. Think "whooping cough."
Sabouraud Dextrose | Fungi | Low pH inhibits bacterial growth; used for systemic and local mycoses.
TCBS Agar | Vibrio cholerae | High pH/Bile salts. V. cholerae ferments sucrose, turning the agar yellow.
* Neisseria: To remember the Thayer-Martin components, think VPN: Vancomycin, Polymyxin, and Nystatin. This "connects" the media to the organism's name (V-P-N for Neisseria).
* Haemophilus: H. influenzae needs "Chocolate" because it can't break open the RBCs itself to get to the "goodies" (Factors V and X) inside.
* Legionella: Imagine a soldier in the French Legion carrying a Con-Iron (Cysteine and Iron) skillet over Charcoal.
* Lactose Fermenters: Use the mnemonic "MaKEE'S" for MacConkey: Mitchell, a-Klebsiella, Entrobacter, E coli, Serratia.
* X factor: Hemin.
* V factor: NAD+.
* Tellurite: Specifically for Diphtheria. If they describe "black colonies on a special medium," it is almost always C. diphtheriae.