What type of agar is commonly used to culture fungi?

Sabouraud's agar is specifically designed for the cultivation of fungi due to its nutrient-rich composition, which supports the growth of a wide variety of fungi and yeasts. The agar contains a high concentration of glucose, providing an energy source conducive to fungal growth, and has a low pH that helps inhibit the growth of bacteria, further promoting the isolation of fungi. This specialized environment makes it particularly effective for laboratory diagnosis of fungal infections.

In contrast, other agar types listed serve different primary purposes. Cetrimide agar is mainly utilized for the isolation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and contains components that inhibit gram-positive bacteria, which is not suitable for general fungal culture. Blood agar plates are primarily used for the cultivation of fastidious organisms, particularly bacteria, and for determining hemolytic activity, rather than specifically for fungi. Theyer-Martin agar is a selective medium used primarily for the culture of Neisseria species and is not optimized for fungal growth. Thus, Sabouraud's agar stands out as the preferred medium for culturing fungi in clinical and laboratory settings.