College lab class ends with 32 people on antibiotics for deadly germ exposure

A university lab class triggered a meningitis exposure scare after a vial was believed to contain N. meningitidis.

Thirty-three exposed people were given 10-day preventive antibiotics, and two required emergency evaluations.

State lab testing later identified the organism as N. sicca, not the dangerous pathogen.

Investigators blamed poor labeling, inventory, and biosafety practices, prompting the university to revise procedures.