Gram negative cocci Information and Courses from MediaLab, Inc.

Clumps of gram negative cocci can be seen in the center of this picture.

Gram negative cocci which occur in pairs with their adjacent sides flattened, giving them a coffee bean appearance, are typical of the genus Neisseria. Neisseria gonorrhea is commonly found within white blood cells; these organisms must be carefully sought within genital tract specimens, and their presence or absence should be specifically noted in the report.The presence of intracellular gram negative bacilli in a purulent male urethral smear is presumptive evidence of gonococci, but this assumption cannot be made in a female. Beware of other organisms which resemble gonococci but are found extracellularly, such as Acinetobacter lwoffi, which must be distinguished biochemically.