gram-negative cocci and diplococci:
Neisseria gonorrhoeae:
This Gram-negative diplococci bacteria resembles kidney beans or coffee beans in pairs facing each other. It is the causative agent of the STD gonorrhea. It was first isolated in 1879 by Albert Neisser. It can cause urethritis, systemic disease, septic arthritis, and neonatal ophthalmia, which can lead to blindness. This bacterium is oxidase +, aerobic, and tends to be found inside of neutrophils since it possesses the ability to evade phagocytosis. It is a fastidious organism, meaning that it has special requirements to grow and be cultured, including CO2 and enriched agar with and without antibiotics. It grows well on chocolate and on modified Thayer-Martin agars.
This organism can be transmitted through vaginal, oral and anal sex. Prevention includes using barrier protection. It can also be transmitted during the delivery process during childbirth, so pregnant women should be treated with antibiotics prior to delivery, and immediately upon giving birth, the infant should be treated with antibiotic eye gel. A person does not develop long-term immunity once infected, and can become reinfected. It can infect the genitals, throat, and eyes. It can also be carried and transmitted, without causing any symptoms (asymptomatic infection). If untreated, it can spread into the bloodstream, to the joints, and can cause pelvic inflammatory disease in women with scarring and infertility. Coinfection with Chlamydia is common, so testing should be performed for that organism as well.
This organism can be transmitted through vaginal, oral and anal sex. Prevention includes using barrier protection. It can also be transmitted during the delivery process during childbirth, so pregnant women should be treated with antibiotics prior to delivery, and immediately upon giving birth, the infant should be treated with antibiotic eye gel. A person does not develop long-term immunity once infected, and can become reinfected. It can infect the genitals, throat, and eyes. It can also be carried and transmitted, without causing any symptoms (asymptomatic infection). If untreated, it can spread into the bloodstream, to the joints, and can cause pelvic inflammatory disease in women with scarring and infertility. Coinfection with Chlamydia is common, so testing should be performed for that organism as well.
Neisseria meningitidis:
Moraxella catarrhalis:
Moraxella catarrhalis is a Gram-negative diplococcus that is aerobic, oxidase-positive, catalase-positive, nonmotile, fastidious and grows well on chocolate agar at 35-37 degrees Celsius.
Colonies are opaque, cream, off-white, translucent to orange-tan, or pinkish-brown, and may be rough and matte or glistening.
This microbe can cause eye infections, middle ear infections (otitis media), respiratory infections (bronchitis, sinusitis, laryngitis, bronchopneumonia), joint infections (septic arthritis), sepsis (rare), endocarditis (heart), urethritis in males and CNS infections.
Colonies are opaque, cream, off-white, translucent to orange-tan, or pinkish-brown, and may be rough and matte or glistening.
This microbe can cause eye infections, middle ear infections (otitis media), respiratory infections (bronchitis, sinusitis, laryngitis, bronchopneumonia), joint infections (septic arthritis), sepsis (rare), endocarditis (heart), urethritis in males and CNS infections.
Veillonella parvula:
Veillonella parvula is a Gram-negative, anaerobic cocci. In humans, this is normal flora of the gut and mouth. This bacteria has caused serious infections in humans, including endocarditis (heart) and osteomyelitis (bones), systemic infections, vaginosis in women, and periodontitis and causes dental cavities (1)(2)(3).
References:
1. Marriott D, Stark D, Harkness J (February 2007). "Veillonella parvula discitis and secondary bacteremia: a rare infection complicating endoscopy and colonoscopy?". Journal of Clinical Microbiology. 45 (2): 672–674. doi:10.1128/JCM.01633-06. PMC 1829049. PMID 17108070.
2. Africa, Charlene; Nel, Janske; Stemmet, Megan (2014). "Anaerobes and Bacterial Vaginosis in Pregnancy: Virulence Factors Contributing to Vaginal Colonisation". International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 11 (7): 6979–7000. doi:10.3390/ijerph110706979. ISSN 1660-4601. PMC 4113856. PMID 25014248
3. Pietropaoli, Davide; Del Pinto, Rita; Ferri, Claudio; Ortu, Eleonora; Monaco, Annalisa (August 2019). "Definition of hypertension-associated oral pathogens in NHANES". Journal of Periodontology. 90 (8): 866–876. doi:10.1002/JPER.19-0046. ISSN 1943-3670. PMID 31090063
4. CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/std/gonorrhea/lab/mcat.htm
2. Africa, Charlene; Nel, Janske; Stemmet, Megan (2014). "Anaerobes and Bacterial Vaginosis in Pregnancy: Virulence Factors Contributing to Vaginal Colonisation". International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 11 (7): 6979–7000. doi:10.3390/ijerph110706979. ISSN 1660-4601. PMC 4113856. PMID 25014248
3. Pietropaoli, Davide; Del Pinto, Rita; Ferri, Claudio; Ortu, Eleonora; Monaco, Annalisa (August 2019). "Definition of hypertension-associated oral pathogens in NHANES". Journal of Periodontology. 90 (8): 866–876. doi:10.1002/JPER.19-0046. ISSN 1943-3670. PMID 31090063
4. CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/std/gonorrhea/lab/mcat.htm