Quick Review Cards for Medical Laboratory Science

Neisseriaand Moraxella Clinical Microbiology Review 173

ORGANISM PATHOGENICITY GRAM STAIN CULTURE KEY CHARACTERISTICS OTHER

Neisseriaspp

N. gonorrhoeae Susceptible to drying
& cold. Don’t refrig-
erate specimens.
Molecular methods
for genital speci-
mens. Culture
preferred for non-
genital specimens &
those from children.
Should confirm by
different method.

Aerobic or faculta-

tive. Pathogens are

capnophilic.

Requires ↑CO 2. Usu-

ally doesn’t grow on

SBA. Grows on CHOC

& Neisseria-selective

media. Colonies are

small, grayish white

or tan. 5 different

colony types. May

look like mixed

culture.

See individual

organisms below

Gonorrhea, salpingi-

tis, ophthalmia of

the newborn

GNDC, coffee-

bean shaped

Intracellular & ex-

tracellular GNDC.

Diagnostic in

urethral discharge

from sympto-

matic males.

Culture confirma-

tion required for

females

Catalase pos. Oxidase pos.

Carbohydrate utilization:

glucose only. Superoxol

pos. Can ID with mono-

clonal antibodies.

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