LEVINTHALS MEDIUM BASE

Description

The genus Haemophilus includes a number of species that cause a wide variety of infections but share a common morphology and a requirement for blood-derived factors during growth that has given the genus its name. Haemophilus influenzae, the major pathogen, is by far the most virulent organism in this group, commonly causing bloodstream invasion and meningitis in children younger than 2 years. Other Haemophilus species cause disease less frequently. The Haemophilus genus represents a large group of gram-negative rods that grow on blood agar. The blood provides two factors, which many Haemophilus species require for growth: factor-X and factor-V. Levinthals Medium is used for the cultivation of Haemophilus species. Haemophilus species require haemoglobin for their growth in the culture medium.