throat and nose cultures, a microscopic examination used to isolate and identify pathogens such as streptococci, meningococci, gonococci, Bordetella pertussis, and Corynebacterium diphtheriae. Identification of streptococci is particularly important in a throat culture because rheumatic heart disease or glomerulonephritis may follow a streptococcal pharyngitis. Nasopharyngeal cultures are often done to screen for infections and carrier states caused by various other organisms such as Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria meningitidis, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and viruses causing rhinitis.
