Neisseriaand Moraxellacontinued Clinical Microbiology Review 174
ORGANISM PATHOGENICITY GRAM STAIN CULTURE KEY CHARACTERISTICS OTHER
N. meningitidis
Commensal
Neisseriaspp
Don’t refrigerate.
Handle in BSC.
Serogrouping by
slide agglutination.
Bacterial antigen
test available for
detection but poor
sensitivity. Shouldn’t
replace culture.
Vaccine available.
Not speciated if
from respiratory
specimens. Must
differentiate from
pathogenic Neisseria
when isolated on
selective media or
from normally sterile
body site.
Grows on SBA,
CHOC, & Neisseria-
selective media.
Colonies are bluish
gray or tan. May be
mucoid.
Grow on SBA &
CHOC at RT, nutrient
agar at 35°C. Some
grow on Neisseria-
selective media.
Don’t require ↑CO2.
May be pigmented.
Can be normal flora
in upper respiratory
tract. Common cause
of meningitis in
young adults
Normal in upper
respiratory tract.
Rarely cause disease
Intracellular &
extracellular
GNDC
GNDC
Carbohydrate utilization:
glucose & maltose.
ONPG neg.
Varies with species.
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