What type of cultural medium is typically used for the isolation of pathogenic bacteria?

Selective media are specifically designed to inhibit the growth of certain types of bacteria while allowing others to grow. This characteristic makes selective media particularly useful for isolating pathogenic bacteria, as they often require specific conditions to thrive and may be overwhelmed by the presence of non-pathogenic flora. An example of selective media is MacConkey agar, which promotes the growth of gram-negative bacteria while inhibiting gram-positive bacteria.

In contrast, enriched media are formulated to support the growth of a wide variety of organisms by providing additional nutrients, which may not be suitable if the goal is to isolate one specific pathogenic bacterium. Nutritional media primarily provide general nutrients for microbial growth but do not have the selective properties needed to isolate specific pathogenic species. Universal media are designed to support the growth of a wide range of bacteria without specificity, making them less ideal for isolating particular pathogenic strains.