Gram-negative intracellular diplococci - characteristic finding in cases of gonorrhea: cervicitis and urethritis.
One of the great works of microbiology art is that of a Gram smear positive for intracellular Gram-negative diplococci…just writing the term brings a blush to my face.
I spent many hours in the microbiology lab searching cells in smears prepared from cervical and urethral secretions for this elusive intracellular Gram-negative diplococci. Only the holy grail could be more impressive.
It was extremely exciting to find inside a beautifully stained neutrophil, a kidney-bean shaped pair of red diplococci. Few things have brought me such pleasure since! Although characterizing Streptococcus pseudopneumoniae was a close second. And there’s a third thing, but I can’t put my finger on it at the moment.
As I alluded to in my confession above, gonorrhea diagnoses are based on the findings of Neisseria gonorrhoeae following culture of samples collected from the client, and/or molecular testing of client samples. Very few facilities still process direct cervical and direct urethral smears for the presence of “Intracellular Gram-negative diplococci suggestive of Neisseria gonorrhoea”. I feel as if the air has been sucked from the room...
Gonorrhea is the second most reported sexually transmitted infection in North America.
Read more on sexually transmitted infections:
Sexually transmitted infection
