Question

Laboratory analysis of neonatal ocular discharge would be positive for gram negative intracellular diplococci for which of the following organisms?

1) chlamydia
2) influenza
3) adenovirus
4) gonococcus

Answer 1

Gram-negative intracellular diplococci in neonatal ocular discharge are indicative of a gonococcus infection. Neisseria gonorrhoeae is the bacterium responsible for this finding in gonococcal ophthalmia neonatorum.

Step-by-step explanation:

Laboratory analysis of neonatal ocular discharge that presents with gram-negative intracellular diplococci would be indicative of a gonococcus infection. Gonococcus, or Neisseria gonorrhoeae, is the causative agent of gonococcal ophthalmia neonatorum, a type of eye infection that newborns can contract during birth from a mother with a gonorrhea infection. Chlamydia trachomatis, although also associated with neonatal eye infections known as inclusion conjunctivitis, is not characterized by gram-negative intracellular diplococci under microscopic examination.

Therefore, out of the options provided — chlamydia, influenza, adenovirus, and gonococcus — the correct organism associated with a positive finding of gram-negative intracellular diplococci is gonococcus (4).