College lab class ends with 32 people on antibiotics for deadly germ exposure
Summary
A college microbiology class wrongly thought they had been exposed to a dangerous germ called Neisseria meningitidis. As a precaution, 32 people took antibiotics, but later tests showed the germ was a non-harmful relative called Neisseria sicca.Key Facts
- 33 people, including students and staff, were involved in the lab exposure scare.
- The class was supposed to identify Plesiomonas shigelloides, a non-dangerous bacterium.
- Everyone in the class mistakenly identified the germ as Neisseria meningitidis, which can cause serious infections.
- The lab lacked the special safety equipment usually required to handle N. meningitidis.
- A vial labeled N. meningitidis was mistakenly stored in the same freezer as the safe bacteria.
- Public health officials advised all exposed people to take antibiotics for 10 days.
- Two people had mild symptoms and underwent spinal taps to check for infection.
- Advanced testing showed the germ was Neisseria sicca, a harmless relative causing the confusion.
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