Johns Hopkins ABX Guide
Moraxella species
MICROBIOLOGY
- Gram-negative diplococcus [Fig], appears identical to N. gonorrhoeae.
- Previously known as Branhamella.
- M. catarrhalis is the major human pathogen.
- Occasional cases of other Moraxella species described.
- M. nonliquefaciens has been seen in highly immunocompromised patients. May occasionally be misidentified in the lab as N. cinerea, N. flavescens, or as a glucose-negative strain of N. gonorrhoeae.
- Occasional cases of other Moraxella species described.
- Frequently missed in respiratory cultures because colonies resemble commensal Neisseria, which are normal flora.
- Grows easily on blood chocolate agar, grows well at 28º C.
- Colonizes upper airways in 5-15% of the population, found only in humans.
- Most frequently found as part of normal flora for infants and children, decreases in adults.
- Commonly produces beta-lactamase, 95% of strains resistant to amoxicillin.
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Last updated: March 8, 2020
Citation
Fabre, Valeria, and Paul G Auwaerter. "Moraxella Species." Johns Hopkins ABX Guide, The Johns Hopkins University, 2020. Pediatrics Central, peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540353/all/Moraxella_species.
Fabre V, Auwaerter PG. Moraxella species. Johns Hopkins ABX Guide. The Johns Hopkins University; 2020. https://peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540353/all/Moraxella_species. Accessed May 12, 2025.
Fabre, V., & Auwaerter, P. G. (2020). Moraxella species. In Johns Hopkins ABX Guide. The Johns Hopkins University. https://peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540353/all/Moraxella_species
Fabre V, Auwaerter PG. Moraxella Species [Internet]. In: Johns Hopkins ABX Guide. The Johns Hopkins University; 2020. [cited 2025 May 12]. Available from: https://peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540353/all/Moraxella_species.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - ELEC
T1 - Moraxella species
ID - 540353
A1 - Fabre,Valeria,M.D.
AU - Auwaerter,Paul,M.D.
Y1 - 2020/03/08/
BT - Johns Hopkins ABX Guide
UR - https://peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540353/all/Moraxella_species
PB - The Johns Hopkins University
DB - Pediatrics Central
DP - Unbound Medicine
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