Neisseria gonorrhoeae is best described as what type of organism?

• A. Gram-positive cocci
• B. Gram-negative diplococcus
• C. Gram-negative rod
• D. Gram-positive bacillus

Answer: (B)

Neisseria gonorrhoeae is best described as a Gram-negative diplococcus. This means it has a Gram-negative cell wall, so it does not retain the crystal violet stain and appears pink after Gram staining, and its characteristic shape is two round bacteria paired together (diplococci), often described as kidney-bean shaped. In clinical samples, you can frequently see these Gram-negative diplococci inside neutrophils, which is a helpful diagnostic clue. The other options don’t fit because they describe different shapes or Gram characteristics: Gram-positive cocci would stain purple and not be paired diplococci, Gram-negative rods are elongated rather than circular pairs, and Gram-positive bacilli are rod-shaped.