An effective, simplified medium for the culture of Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

A new culture medium for Neisseria gonoorhoeae is described. The frequency of isolation of gonococci was significantly higher when this medium was used than when Thayer-Martin medium containing vancomycin, colistin, and nystatin was used in a study of cervical, urethral, and analy specimens. In a similar comparative study, Thayer-Martin medium containing trimethoprim and polymyxin B as antimicrobial agents gave a significantly lower frequency of isolation of gonococci than did the new medium. A modified McLeod medium containing human placenta was found to have the same high performance as the new medium, but, like the modified Thayer-Martin medium, the modified McLeod medium is more expensive and more difficult to prepare.