Gonorrhea is caused by a gram (negative/positive) organism?

Gonorrhea is caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae, which is classified as a gram-negative organism. This classification is determined by the bacterium's cell wall structure, which does not retain the crystal violet stain used in the Gram staining procedure, resulting in it appearing pink under a microscope after being counterstained with safranin.

The identification of Neisseria gonorrhoeae as gram-negative is important for several reasons. It influences the choice of antibiotics for treatment, as gram-negative bacteria often exhibit different resistance patterns compared to gram-positive organisms. Understanding the pathogenic characteristics of this bacterium also aids in implementing appropriate public health measures and effective clinical management of gonorrhea infections.