What describes diplococci?

Diplococci refers specifically to bacteria that are found in pairs. The term "diplo" is derived from the Greek word for "double," indicating that these cocci (which are spherical, gram-positive bacteria) exist as two cells that are joined together. This pairing can occur as a result of incomplete division after cell replication.

In microbiology, understanding the arrangement of cocci is essential, as it provides insight into the organism's identity and potential characteristics. For example, while single cocci denote individual cells and clusters could indicate staphylococci, which group randomly, diplococci uniquely signifies that the bacteria are organized specifically in pairs. This characteristic can often assist in differential diagnosis of bacterial infections and identification during laboratory procedures.