Isolation ofNeisseria lactamicusfrom the nasopharynx

During 1971 and 1972, 71 cultures of neisseriae that attacked lactose were received by this laboratory. All strains except one from an eye swab were from the nasopharynx of healthy subjects. Nineteen similar strains from the nasopharynx were isolated in this laboratory. The characteristics of these strains were compared with those of Neisseria meningitidis, Neisseria pharyngis, Neisseria catarrhalis, and Neisseria lactamicus. The 90 strains under investigation closely resembled Neisseria meningitidis but could be differentiated by production of acid from lactose and beta-galactosidase activity and were therefore classified as Neisseria lactamicus.