● Covered by 1 source · 1 reportLow impact1 neutral
College Microbiology Class Mistakenly Identifies Harmless Bacteria as Deadly Pathogen
Key points
- 33 people believed they were exposed to a deadly germ in a college lab.
- 32 individuals took antibiotics as a precaution; two had spinal taps.
- The bacteria was later confirmed to be harmless Plesiomonas shigelloides.
- All lab tests incorrectly identified the bacteria as Neisseria meningitidis.
Mistaken Identity in Lab Class
A college microbiology lab class experienced an incident where 33 individuals, including students, professors, and lab workers, believed they had been exposed to a deadly germ. This led to 32 people beginning an antibiotic regimen as a precautionary measure, and two individuals underwent lumbar punctures after developing mild symptoms.
The Actual Bacteria
The bacteria in question was intended to be Plesiomonas shigelloides, a common and non-dangerous bacterium known to cause diarrhea in humans but also found widely in the environment and healthy individuals. However, every person in the class identified the mystery microbe as Neisseria meningitidis, a dangerous pathogen capable of causing meningitis and bloodstream infections.
Testing Discrepancy
Instructors found no fault with the students' conclusions, as their tests consistently identified the bacteria as a gram-negative, oxidase- and catalase-positive diplococcus with carbohydrate fermentation patterns matching N. meningitidis. This discrepancy highlights a significant issue in the identification process within the lab setting.
Implications for Lab Safety
The incident, published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, serves as a cautionary tale regarding laboratory protocols and identification methods. N. meningitidis requires specialized handling, including respiratory protection and biosafety cabinets, which were not used by the students who only had gloves and lab coats.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
The daily brief
One email each morning: the day's tech stories, clustered across outlets and summarized. No account needed.
One email a day. Unsubscribe in one click, any time.
Today's brief
Spend a few minutes, get the whole day. Every topic's top stories in one hands-free rundown — listen, watch, or read the transcript.
▶ Play today's brief
New every morning, and the back catalogue is archived by date.
Reporting from
A college microbiology class, including students and staff, believed they were exposed to a deadly pathogen, leading 32 individuals to take antibiotics and two to undergo spinal taps. The incident, detailed in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, revealed that the bacteria was actually a harmless strain, despite all lab tests indicating the dangerous pathogen.