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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