Quick Review Cards for Medical Laboratory Science

Neisseriaand Moraxellacontinued Clinical Microbiology Review 175

ORGANISM PATHOGENICITY GRAM STAIN CULTURE KEY CHARACTERISTICS OTHER

N. lactamica

Moraxella

catarrhalis

GNDC = gram-negative diplococci.
Note: Gram-negative rods Kingella& Acinetobactermay grow on Neisseria-selective media.

One of commensal

Neisseria. Easily

misidentified as

N. meningitidis. May

react with meningo-

coccal typing sera.

ONPG differentiates.

DNase & butyrate

esterase differentiate

from Neisseriaspp.

Will grow on

Neisseria-selective

media. Resembles

N. meningitidis but

smaller.

Grows on SBA &

CHOC. Some may

grow at RT &/or on

Neisseria-selective

media. “Hockey

puck colonies”

(colony can be

pushed over agar

surface with loop).

Normal in upper

respiratory tract of

children. Rare in

adults. Rarely causes

disease

Normal in upper res-

piratory tract. Causes

respiratory infections

in young, old, &

compromised; otitis

media & sinusitis in

children

GNDC

GNDC

Carbohydrate utilization:

glucose, maltose, & lac-

tose (slow). ONPG pos.

Catalase pos. Oxidase pos.

Carbohydrate utilization:

neg for all sugars &

ONPG. DNase pos.

Butyrate esterase pos.