Transport media: purpose of Stuart’s medium Stuart’s transport medium is specifically recommended for preserving and transporting specimens suspected to contain which pathogen?

Introduction / Context:
Transport media preserve organism viability and reduce overgrowth during transit to the laboratory. Stuart’s medium (and the modified Amies medium) are classic choices for fastidious organisms that are fragile outside the host, such as Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Specimen sources may include urethral, cervical, or pharyngeal swabs.
• Goal is to maintain viability without significant multiplication.
• Fastidious Gram-negative diplococci are particularly sensitive to desiccation and temperature changes.

Concept / Approach:

Stuart’s and Amies media are semisolid, nonnutritive formulations that maintain pH and reduce drying, suitable for Neisseria and other fastidious pathogens. Prompt processing or incubation on selective media (for example, Thayer–Martin) is still required for recovery.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

Guidelines list Stuart’s/Amies with charcoal for Neisseria spp.; for enteric pathogens like Salmonella or Shigella, buffered glycerol saline or Cary–Blair is preferred. Vibrio cholerae is often transported in alkaline peptone water or Cary–Blair.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Salmonella/Shigella: Prefer Cary–Blair transport medium for fecal specimens.
• Vibrio cholerae: Use alkaline peptone water or Cary–Blair.
• Clostridioides difficile: Toxin detection requires specialized handling; Stuart’s is not optimal.

Common Pitfalls:

• Overlooking that transport media are organism-specific and specimen-type dependent.

Final Answer:

Neisseria gonorrhoeae