Neisseria gonorrhoeae

MICROBIOLOGY

• Non-motile, non-spore-forming, Gram-negative diplococcus.
• Infects cuboidal and columnar epithelium typically leading to a vigorous inflammatory response.
• Selective growth media (Thayer-Martin & New York City) most common; Cx routinely available in Dx of GC infection in settings that can process specimens appropriately. Swabs from urethral, cervical, rectal, pharyngeal, and ocular sites can be Cx’d.
• Cx and antimicrobial susceptibility testing necessary when antibiotic resistance is suspected.
• Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) are the gold standard and may be performed on urethral swabs, cervical swabs, urine, self-collected vaginal swabs, and rectal and pharyngeal swabs.