ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Neisseria meningitidis because of their pathogenicity in humans. The isolation of the organism and the diagnosis of the infection must be reported to the local public health authorities. Gram stain showing Gram-negative intracellular microorganisms is presumptive for the diagnosis of gonorrhea. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry is being used by numerous laboratories because it is fast and gives accurate identification for clinically significant organisms. In females, the endocervix is the primary site of infection. Manifestation of disseminated gonococcal disease in males and females includes dermatitis, arthritis-tenosynovitis syndrome, monoarticular septic arthritis, perihepatitis, endocarditis, and meningitis. Risk factors of meningococcal disease include individuals with complement or properdin component deficiencies, hepatic failure, systemic lupus erythematous, multiple myeloma, and asplenia. Gram-stained smears showing Gram-negative diplococci of CSF, aspirates, and other fluids can give the presumptive diagnosis. With the introduction of sulfonamides, chemotherapy was the main method of treating meningococcal disease.
