71.4% showed
Gram-negative diplococci in the Gram stain.
On December 10,
gram-negative diplococci were detected in blood from PO1, and hospital B reported the case of meningococcal disease to its local health authority and the local health authority of PO1's employer.
Indeed,
gram-negative diplococci were found on the Gram stain.
Laboratory reports of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, urine colony counts above 100,000/ml, and
gram-negative diplococci in cerebrospinal fluid smears share a common denominator --all send up red flags in the mind of an infection control practitioner.
Probable bacterial meningitis was defined as a suspected case for which gram-stained CSF was positive (
gram-negative diplococci, gram-positive diplococci, or gram-negative bacilli); probable meningococcal meningitis cases are limited to those with
gram-negative diplococci.
A presumptive case was defined as detection of
gram-negative diplococci in specimens from a normally sterile site (blood and CSF) in a person with classic symptoms who had close contact with a confirmed case-patient.
Gram staining showed
gram-negative diplococci. The ID-test HN-20 Rapid system (Nissui, Tokyo, Japan) classified the bacterium as N.
Gram stain showed 3+
gram-negative diplococci. Cultures of the cerebrospinal fluid and blood yielded pure growth of serogroup Y Neisseria meningitidis.
In 124 cases, Neisseria meningitidis was isolated from a normally sterile site (confirmed cases); in four cases,
gram-negative diplococci were detected in specimens obtained from a normally sterile site or in persons who had classic symptoms after contact with a confirmed case (presumed cases).