In a case of suspected gonococcal infection, what culture result is most likely to be observed?

In a case of suspected gonococcal infection, the most likely culture result observed would be the growth of small colonies consisting of gram-negative diplococci. Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the bacterium that causes gonorrhea, is characterized as a gram-negative diplococcus, which means it appears as pairs of spherical bacteria that do not retain the crystal violet stain used in the Gram stain procedure but instead take up the counterstain, leading to a pinkish color.

The laboratory culture of N. gonorrhoeae is typically performed on selective media, such as Thayer-Martin agar, which facilitates the growth of this bacteria while inhibiting the growth of other flora. The small colony morphology observed is consistent with this species, and the gram-negative diplococci can be confirmed using additional biochemical tests, such as oxidase positivity, which is typical of Neisseria species.

This specific identification is crucial for proper diagnosis and treatment of gonococcal infections. Other options that suggest different morphological characteristics or biochemical behaviors do not align with the known properties of N. gonorrhoeae. For instance, the presence of gram-positive cocci or large mucoid colonies of gram-negative bacilli would suggest different pathogens entirely, while mentioning