Bacteria that require special growth factors and complex nutrients are termed what?

Bacteria that require special growth factors and complex nutrients are termed fastidious organisms. These bacteria have specific and often complex nutritional requirements that must be met in order for them to grow and reproduce. Fastidious bacteria may need certain vitamins, amino acids, or other nutrients that cannot be synthesized by the organism itself and must come from the growth medium. This distinguishes them from non-fastidious bacteria, which can grow in simpler environments with basic nutrients.

The terms autotrophic and heterotrophic describe how organisms obtain their energy. Autotrophic organisms can produce their own food usually through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis, while heterotrophic organisms consume organic substances for energy. These terms are not related to the complexity of nutrient requirements, which is why they do not apply in this context.