Brucella Species Staining as Gram-Positive Rod and Gram-Positive Cocci in Chains.

Two cases of Brucellosis were identified at a hospital in Rhode Island. In both cases, the organisms were isolated from the blood cultures. The bacteria did not appear as the classical textbook description of Brucella spp. as short, Gram-negative rods; instead, Gram-positive rods and Gram-positive cocci in chains were observed. Due to the atypical Gram stain morphology, Brucella spp. were not initially considered as a possible pathogen. Antimicrobial prophylaxes were offered to the technologists who were exposed to the organisms.